Help Support the Henkels

The Henkel family has been going through a medical nightmare that started on May 8 when Bob Henkel had to be rushed to the ER and go into the ICU after a routine colonoscopy and endoscopy that took place in the morning. In that routine procedure, the bowel was perforated and was leaking into Bob’s abdomen causing so much pain and unknown challenges/circumstances/answers. Due to this nightmare, Bob has been out of work completely and Dana has been missing work off and on for 6 months and ongoing. As you can imagine, this is emotionally, physically and financially draining. Anything you can give will help. They cannot thank you enough for your support and most importantly your prayers throughout this time.

Bob had surgery July 8th, a tough one due to infection and inflammation found where the leak was and where the first drain was placed by Virtua. The surgeons at UPenn took part of his bowel that was connected/compromised with the infection accumulated near old drain site. A J-tube was placed for his nutrition. And a G-tube placed to help drain. Doctors proposed 4-6 weeks of focusing on his body, and the nutrition with the feeding tube that was going to be a huge part of his healing, especially with the leak.

From July 8, Bob was having progress but was left with an open wound that the doctors were hoping would close on its own. Bob had a home care nurse and his beautiful wife to help change bandages, hook up the nutrition and try to help everything continue to heal. Bob and Dana tried to live life as normal as possible.

Fast forward - the July 8 wound never closed, so doctors were hoping to do a skin graft surgery. A quick in and out surgery where Bob could go home the next day. That did not happen. November 6, the surgeon decided to go in a bit deeper to clean out infection, old mesh and was able to close the wound successfully. While it was good news, Bob was not healing and instead things got worse.

Emergency surgery took place for Bob on November 13 that took 5 hours. Bob’s bowel burst a hole and was leaking into his drains from the November 6 surgery. The surgery went well and the doctor has been hopeful that this was the final piece of the journey.

4 days after surgery, Bob is left with an Ng tube to help drain from his stomach and is doing everything he can to heal and get home but there are still obstacles in the way. More CT scans are needed and the nightmare won’t seem to end.

Please help the Henkel family in any way you can, share this with as many people as you can, every little bit helps.

Thank you so much. Keep praying.