Help Tim Dohrenwend & Family

Mike and I have known Tim and Marianne for 35 years. They are such good friends and very caring people. They would not hesitate to help anyone who was in need. Right now, they are in need of help themselves. On August 13th Tim suffered a massive heart attack. His son Joe administered CPR until EMS arrived. He had to be shocked 5 times and received 3 shots of epinephrine. Tim was rushed to UNC Rex Heart and Vascular hospital where the cardiologist performed a decatherization and placed 2 stents in his left artery. The cardiologist then met with Marianne, Joe & Nick to explain how intense the heart attack was and that Tim's heart had sustained severe damage. He did not know if Tim would survive and if he did, what his brain function would be. The cardiologist told Marianne and the boys to pray. So all their friends and family from across the country and around the world were praying for Tim to pull through. Close friends came to the hospital to support them and pray. Tim was on a breathing machine that was doing all the breathing for him because he was heavily sedated to rest his heart. There was a balloon pump in his groin keeping the blood flowing to his heart.  11 medications were used intravenously, as well as a cooling down protocol which was used to bring Tim's body temperature to 94 degrees to help preserve his brain function. After 5 days, Tim was able to breathe on his own. He improved everyday, and surpassed his medical team’s expectations. He was discharged from the hospital on August 24th with doctors orders to be placed in an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility, but Tim's insurance would only approve outpatient rehab. On Monday August 27th Tim went to his rehab evaluation and on Tuesday evening he collapsed. Marianne called 911 thinking he was having another heart attack. Apparently Tim's blood pressure had dropped to 60/30 due to the three heart medications he was on. After an additional 3 days in the hospital, Tim's medications were adjusted and his blood pressure started to improve. He was discharged again on August 30th with Doctors orders to receive home care services because of his weak condition and low blood pressure. As of today, September 8, Marianne tells me that home care services still have not started because their insurance is not cooperating.  The cardiologist called Tim yesterday and said hopefully things have been approved to start next week.

Because Tim was employed less than one year, Marianne found out that their health insurance is being terminated on September 8th and they will be offered a cobra insurance that will cost $1230 per month. Hospital bills have begun trickling in and are expected to exceed over $200,000. Without any income, Tim needs our help to keep his insurance coverage in place to receive the care he needs.  I'm asking if anyone can help the Dohrenwend's at this difficult time, please do so by donating anything they can to this go fund me page.  If you know Tim or Marianne, you will know why I am doing this for them. 

Laurie