Help Waldo get his mojo back!
Donation protected
Some of you may have noticed that Dennis Koegel has been MIA for the past 6-8 weeks. Late March, he was admitted to the hospital and he ended up at Washington Hospital Center where he was given the devastating news that his big, generous heart that we have all felt the love from at one time or another, is no longer able to provide his body with what it needs. In addition to some complicating factors, he was told he would need to have a mechanical pump (LVAD- Left Ventricular Assist Device) implanted in his body that will pump his heart for the rest of his days. He will now carry his battery powered life blood around in a fairly attractive man purse and I’m confident that with the support he needs, he will eventually be rocking it once again. He should be able to participate in many activities that he did before but life is a new game now for Dennis. We also hope he may be a candidate for transplant at some point.
Needless to say, his life has taken quite a hit, physically, emotionally and financially. He came through the surgery, which initially was not a certainty, and now thankfully he is home and adjusting to his new life with his pump and batteries. There is every reason to think that Dennis will pull up his big boy pants and learn to live with his new existence. His LVAD will give him good blood supply that his heart had not provided for quite some time. Living with an LVAD is trying and very expensive. If you are interested in the challenges post op take a look at https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/living_with_a_ventricular_assist_device/.
As you can well imagine, the life-giving benefits provided by this medical technology comes at tremendous cost and his permanent medical care expenses will be ongoing. You also that know Dennis has been self-employed, traveling hither and yon, scissors in hand, maintaining the hairdos of multiple generations of families all over Maryland. Unfortunately, his career does not provide him with disability or PTO he desperately needs now. Hopefully, he will be able to slowly start back to work in the future. I know everybody will be eager for Dennis to return when his docs say he’s ready. Also, for at least the near future, he will not be able to serve and entertain the folks who were fortunate enough to be served by him at catered events.
As you might imagine, the out of pocket costs are enough to give any one of us heart failure. Dennis would be the first to lend a hand, if any of his friends found themselves in similar circumstances. Please participate as you are able and keep Dennis in your prayers as he navigates the coming months and tries to recover physically, mentally and financially. Your donation can make a big difference in helping Dennis get back on his feet and able to work again. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity.
Needless to say, his life has taken quite a hit, physically, emotionally and financially. He came through the surgery, which initially was not a certainty, and now thankfully he is home and adjusting to his new life with his pump and batteries. There is every reason to think that Dennis will pull up his big boy pants and learn to live with his new existence. His LVAD will give him good blood supply that his heart had not provided for quite some time. Living with an LVAD is trying and very expensive. If you are interested in the challenges post op take a look at https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/living_with_a_ventricular_assist_device/.
As you can well imagine, the life-giving benefits provided by this medical technology comes at tremendous cost and his permanent medical care expenses will be ongoing. You also that know Dennis has been self-employed, traveling hither and yon, scissors in hand, maintaining the hairdos of multiple generations of families all over Maryland. Unfortunately, his career does not provide him with disability or PTO he desperately needs now. Hopefully, he will be able to slowly start back to work in the future. I know everybody will be eager for Dennis to return when his docs say he’s ready. Also, for at least the near future, he will not be able to serve and entertain the folks who were fortunate enough to be served by him at catered events.
As you might imagine, the out of pocket costs are enough to give any one of us heart failure. Dennis would be the first to lend a hand, if any of his friends found themselves in similar circumstances. Please participate as you are able and keep Dennis in your prayers as he navigates the coming months and tries to recover physically, mentally and financially. Your donation can make a big difference in helping Dennis get back on his feet and able to work again. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity.
Organizer and beneficiary
Suzanne Lucke Turner
Organizer
Salisbury, MD
Dennis Koegel
Beneficiary
