Help put Luke back together!!!

Thank you for considering donating to support my final stage of recovery! A long year of physical, mental, spiritual and financial hurdles has led me to this important crossroad. I have done everything possible on my end to heal and prepare my body for one more surgery. I’ve received the green light and referral from my surgeon to Stanford to move forward! Currently owing $800,000 in medical bills, I am reaching out for financial assistance to complete my recovery and return to work and life.

One year ago, on Super Bowl Sunday, I went to urgent care in Monterey because I hadn’t had a bowel movement in days and felt strange. I was immediately sent to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) for further evaluation. After hours of scans and tests it was determined that a bowel obstruction had perforated the lower intestine and colon walls and had been leaking feces into my abdominal cavity for days. My body was going into septic shock.

As all this unfolded in front of me, I began to shake uncontrollably, worse and worse. Partly due to the septic shock, but mostly due to alcohol withdrawal. As a highly functional yet severe alcoholic, withdrawal symptoms hit hard and fast. I had alerted the nurses of my alcoholism upon arrival at the hospital and reminded doctors and nurses as I began to shake. Medical staff began preparing me for surgery. I struggled to suppress the imminent convulsions for what seemed like hours before my body gave in.

The last thing I remember was loosing control of my muscles and convulsing savagely, off the table and on the floor.

CHOMP doctors and nurses rallied to save my life, twice. Two extended surgeries, heart failure, multiple blood transfusions, G-tube, ileostomy and tracheostomy. Then it was solely up to me to fight to stay alive.

5 weeks in the Intensive Care Unit and three more in the regular hospital followed. Recovery while connected to multiple monitors and a feeding tube for the duration of my stay along with severe trauma to all of my body’s systems resulted in complete attrition of muscles, heart muscle tissue damage and some cognitive impairment. I also now require an osteomy pouch fitted to my belly at all times.

The ileostomy was initially dubbed permanent; something that would have certainly broke my spirit, had I been aware. But with some good karma and physical resilience this proved to be a “reversible” surgery! After a year of healing and stretching out scar tissue my body is ready to be put back together. The wheels for this surgery have been set in motion beginning of February.

Now, here’s where Go Fund Me, and all you lovely people come in! In order to make this surgery happen and get me back to work, I am relying on top shelf, private sector health insurance. Why? Due to my marital status and wife’s annual wages being just above the cut off, I do not qualify for medi-cal or ANY other government assistance towards surgery or recovery. Covered California does not offer any plans comprehensive enough for my situation. My application for SDI (disability) has been pending for nine months; no idea when, or if that will happen. My parents already shelled out the $11,000 for insurance only, this past year, and are not financially able to do this again.

My Blue Shield Gold 80 PPO needs to be renewed by April 1st, 2022. The premium for twelve months comes in over 10 grand and then deductible must be met at $4,500 before it begins to pay for itself. Such a great health care system we have.

All this aside, a wonderful, silver lining shines through! I am 10 months sober! (Not counting 2 months in hospital) My alcoholism was getting very close to a point of no return before this all happened. Despite many attempts to quit or even cut back and much help and support from family and friends, the situation was bleak. The liquor had me and would NOT let go. I had no chance of cleaning up without full medical detox and a professional rehab program, which I could not afford. Now my situation has been simplified. Medical detox completed in the hospital and I physically can’t drink alcohol anymore. As several people have said, I get a “reset” on life! I fully agree and am taking FULL advantage!

Now we arrive at a crucial stage to set up success. With your generous donations I will be able to purchase another year of this “necessary evil” insurance, pay the premium and move forward!

ANY donations, no matter how small, will be huge! I am so lucky to be alive and I’m ready to squeeze every drop out of life! I’m also inspired to help others in need, especially with alcohol dependency, even more than before!

Thank you for your time and consideration of a donation. I believe good karma can make the world a better place for all! It was certainly one important thing that got me through the darkest hours.

Truly yours,

Luke

***All you local folks!!! Please feel free to reach out to Chloe and/or myself directly- we’d love to see you!!!