Help Support Joey's Recovery
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My name is Monika, and Joey is a dear friend of mine. The events that have unfolded and lead to Joey fighting for his life on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 are described below by his loving partner Jon. Joey is doing better but is still in the ICU. As of today, we aren’t exactly sure when Joey will go home, or what kind of care he will need once he is home. At the time that this happened, Joey did not have health insurance and we know that his medical expenses will be huge. We need your help!! We want Joey to recover fully and peacefully without stressing over his existing and future medical expenses. Anything you could donate would be hugely appreciated!
Tuesday morning I received a phone call from Joey telling me he had been coughing up blood that morning. I left work to pick him up from the gym and had him admitted to the ER. Shortly after, they ran an EKG test. His resting heart rate was over 180 bpm.
He was rushed to the trama center, and doctors worked for several hours trying to slow his heart rate down. At this time it was apparent that he was at high risk for heart failure.
They were able to get the heart rate down, but he was still experiencing atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. They were now admitting him to the hospital for overnight monitoring.
From the moment of picking Joey up, I stayed with him until they made me leave later that evening at 7 pm. The words Joey told me before I left, were "I love you, and have never stopped loving you, and will always love you no matter what happens to me" more than heart wrenching, I tried to keep my composure and give him the confidence that everything will be fine. Joey made me his emergency contact, and we were able to text back and fourth for a few hours, until the text messages stopped around 9:30.
At 10:07 Tuesday night, I received a call from the hospital. Joey began coughing up blood and his oxygen levels were dropping severely. The doctor told me that he was close to having complete respiratory failure and they needed to insert a breathing tube and put him on a ventilator. They would not let me come and see him. I absolutely broke down thinking about the last words I heard him say as he was being admitted to ICU.
At 11:22 that evening they told me that they had the breathing tube and ventilator working successfully. They were trying to find the bleeding in his respiratory system and remove the fluid still.
At 3:57am Wednesday morning I received a call that Joey was stable and they were still working on getting his heart rate under control. The hospital called a few more times over the morning with updates on his status.
I got to the hospital as soon as visiting hours opened and stayed at his bedside all day until they made me leave, though the nurse was kind enough to let me stay an hour longer while I read a novel to Joey.
He started out with three medications to control his heart rate and blood pressure, and is now down to one.
As some of you may also know, yesterday, May 26th was our three year anniversary, and have spent almost every single day together since the moment we met. We've only ever truly been apart for less than 4 days in 3 years.
I will continue to give him my attention, care, and love as I always have since we met.
Tuesday morning I received a phone call from Joey telling me he had been coughing up blood that morning. I left work to pick him up from the gym and had him admitted to the ER. Shortly after, they ran an EKG test. His resting heart rate was over 180 bpm.
He was rushed to the trama center, and doctors worked for several hours trying to slow his heart rate down. At this time it was apparent that he was at high risk for heart failure.
They were able to get the heart rate down, but he was still experiencing atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. They were now admitting him to the hospital for overnight monitoring.
From the moment of picking Joey up, I stayed with him until they made me leave later that evening at 7 pm. The words Joey told me before I left, were "I love you, and have never stopped loving you, and will always love you no matter what happens to me" more than heart wrenching, I tried to keep my composure and give him the confidence that everything will be fine. Joey made me his emergency contact, and we were able to text back and fourth for a few hours, until the text messages stopped around 9:30.
At 10:07 Tuesday night, I received a call from the hospital. Joey began coughing up blood and his oxygen levels were dropping severely. The doctor told me that he was close to having complete respiratory failure and they needed to insert a breathing tube and put him on a ventilator. They would not let me come and see him. I absolutely broke down thinking about the last words I heard him say as he was being admitted to ICU.
At 11:22 that evening they told me that they had the breathing tube and ventilator working successfully. They were trying to find the bleeding in his respiratory system and remove the fluid still.
At 3:57am Wednesday morning I received a call that Joey was stable and they were still working on getting his heart rate under control. The hospital called a few more times over the morning with updates on his status.
I got to the hospital as soon as visiting hours opened and stayed at his bedside all day until they made me leave, though the nurse was kind enough to let me stay an hour longer while I read a novel to Joey.
He started out with three medications to control his heart rate and blood pressure, and is now down to one.
As some of you may also know, yesterday, May 26th was our three year anniversary, and have spent almost every single day together since the moment we met. We've only ever truly been apart for less than 4 days in 3 years.
I will continue to give him my attention, care, and love as I always have since we met.
Organizer
Jon Gutapfel
Organizer
Indianapolis, IN