Help Save Nicholas Dodge's Life

Hi, my name is Sydney. I am fundraising for my father, Nicholas.

Nicholas is a dear friend, a brother, a loving husband, and a great father of 3. He's been together with my mother, Maureen for 36 years and they've been married for 28 years. Nicholas worked hard to support his family and my mother raised my siblings and me. They have the most beautiful love I have ever seen. He loves his children Patrick(26), Sydney(24), and Isabella(20) more than life itself. Nicholas is a brilliant, self-made man. Everything he has in his life has been earned through hard work and determination. He gives the greatest advice, he is so giving and would lend a hand to anyone in need. He is the most humble soul. I am absolutely honored to call him my father.

Nick's story starts in April of 2021 and is continuing.

On April 22th, 2021, Nicholas was diagnosed with COVID-19. By April 26th, he was hospitalized for covid pneumonia. Due to pneumonia, there is major damage to Nick's lungs. He has been in a hospital ever since April 26th of this year.

On May 17th, Nicholas was put on a ventilator. During the ventilation, his numbers had dropped to a dangerously low level. At this point, the first hospital Nick was at informed us that there was not much further they were able to do for my father. His lungs had taken too much damage. On June 4th, my brother, sister, mother and I drove to the hospital thinking we were saying goodbye. On this same day, a hospital bed opened up at a different location that was able to provide treatment to help save his life. He was transferred the very same day.

When Nick arrived at the new hospital (his current location) he began Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

For those who don't know, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation or "ECMO is a therapy used to treat people with life-threatening heart and lung failure. ECMO involves the use of a machine to replace some of the functions of a patient’s lungs or heart, or both simultaneously. While ECMO therapy can be life-saving, it is not itself a treatment. Instead, it provides a kind of bridge, a temporary replacement that keeps the functions of the heart and lungs going while doctors treat the underlying problem." Source: https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/ecmo

From this point on my father has been receiving ECMO. ECMO is not for long-term use. It comes with many risks and complications, especially for the patients receiving the therapy who are very sick.

After 20 days of being on the ventilator and the ECMO simultaneously, He was taken off the ventilator and was fully relying on the ECMO therapy. This happened on June 24th.

Ever since then he has been fighting to recover with the lungs he has and the ECMO treatment. Over the past few months, there have been good days and very bad days. He began physical therapy and participated in it as well as he could. There were many setbacks in his therapy/recovery. Not only is he struggling physically, but mentally as well. He has been in the hospital for almost 7 months now, I can't imagine what he is going through. I have never met someone so strong.

Just a few days ago, on November 11th, my father had been coughing up blood due to complications. He had to be put on a ventilator again and is due to come off today, November 14th. We are praying he will continue physical therapy soon and prepare for further progress.

This all has been extremely difficult on my family, especially my mother Maureen. My mother drives to the hospital every single day to see my father. Every. Single. Day. For almost 7 months. Her commitment and love for my father are absolutely unconditional. She is the reason I am able to keep it together. She has not worked in years as my father has always worked hard to provide for her and their children. She has done everything in her power to support and help my father through this terrible time. He is her heart.

The next talk of treatment for my father's recovery is a lung transplant. On top of the costs of medical bills for the hospital stay, treatments, and procedures, we will need funds to afford the likely transplant. He will also need to be transferred to another hospital in Chicago. If we are able to collect funds, we will use them to pay medical expenses and living expenses. The transplant is very costly but we are willing to do anything to save Nicholas. He spent his 55th birthday in the hospital and I want him to spend his 56th at home with his family. I want to see my father walk me down the aisle one day. I want my parents to grow old together and be able to walk on the beach.

Please help my family.

I know many are suffering hardships in this time right now. If you are unable to donate but took the time to read this story, I thank you I simply ask for your prayers.

Sydney Dodge