Help Our Family Navigate this Unexpected Loss

Hi, my name is Heather and I’m raising money on behalf of my mom, my brother and myself.

Last Wednesday, February 28th, 2024, my dad called 911 thinking he was having a heart attack. The paramedics came and checked his heart. They said it didn’t look like a heart attack but said they still wanted him to get checked out. He agreed but couldn’t stand up to walk to the stretcher. The paramedics had to get a net and placed it under him to carry him to the stretcher.

Once my mom, brother and I went to the hospital, we were told he needed to be life-flighted to University of Chicago Hospital for emergency heart surgery as he had an aortic dissection, or a tear in the aorta and was bleeding into his chest. He was still awake and aware, talking and joking with us. We said our goodbyes and our I love you’s, and he was taken by the life flight team. We rushed home to gather our things and head down to the hospital. We were there for 9 hours before meeting with the surgeon who said after the surgery, his blood pressure was low and he elected to keep the top of the chest open in case they needed to go back in. He was still sedated at this time. Fast forward to Friday afternoon, they got the chest closed but even after shutting off the sedation, my dad did not wake up. He was in a comatose like state. His pupils would dilate when exposed to light, he would yawn, gag when they cleaned his intubation tube, and bite down on the toothbrush. My mom, brother and I visited over the next couple days. We’d talk to him and play him music.

Yesterday, March 4th, my mom and I were there for a few hours and we said we would be back tomorrow (today March 5th) to speak to the neurological team. This morning, my dad lost his pulse and was resuscitated while they called my mom. My mom let us say our goodbyes and he passed on his own.

We did not expect this or anticipate this happening. My dad still worked a full time job in the city, did sudoku puzzles and word searches to keep his mind right. We had no idea this would have happened so soon. I’m raising money to help my mom with the loss of a husband, and the loss of his income. She has bills to pay and I don’t want her worried about how or where the money will come from. Please donate if you can, and if you cannot, prayers will suffice. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers at this time.