Helping Gary Cover Medical Expenses and Treatment
Hi my name is Tracy aka "Trixxi" I am Gary Schiavo's significant other. If you have had the pleasure of meeting or knowing Gary on a personal level you already know just how extremely fun, caring and giving he is. His motto is to “Live a Good Life” and actually has it proudly tattooed in Italian. Gary has 3 wonderful children, Gary Jr., Emylee and Anthony to which he is a very involved father. He enjoys being out doors enjoying nature or riding his Harley. Now being sedentary and constrained his world of just getting up and seizing the day has been completely compromised.
Asking for help in the way of donations is very hard to do, as Gary is not the type of person to ever ask for help or handouts. Those who know him are aware of just how stubborn he can be. This is very humbling and not something I ever would think we would do but we can already see a hardship quickly hitting.
We were given an estimate of the first day alone and that was thousands out of pocket. Not to mention an additional ER visit and 6 additional admitted days plus all of the tests, scans, upcoming therapy and follow-up over the course of the next 6+ months. I don’t think anyone likes to ask for help, it’s a matter of pride.
A small amount from a handful of people could make a significant difference.
Please don’t feel obligated, only help if you can and want to, we know there’s a lot of requests for donations and really hesitated in putting this together.
If you are willing to help in any way & don’t feel comfortable using GoFundMe you can message me to help contribute via other forms.
The following is the basic information that got us to the point where we’re at today:
He had been uncomfortable with the thought of getting the COVID-19 vaccination. Realizing that pressures and roadblocks within every day life weren't going to get easier, he reluctantly walked in and accepted the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
This vaccine that is designed to potentially save him actually resulted in a severe reaction, placing him in a life threatening position. Approximately 6-7 days after receiving the vaccine with having no previous underlining or pre-existing health conditions his symptoms worsened. Malaise set in, decreased appetite, dry cough along with other symptoms. Going into the Emergency Dept. we'd been given a different diagnosis & discharged home w/antibiotics, an antispasmodic & negative for COVID. We were to have him follow up with a specialist due to the findings.
Still two days later in my opinion this was not the clear signs or symptoms of the diagnosis we’d been told and with no signs of improvement, just progressively getting worse plus bilateral lower extremity edema setting in we needed to act fast. As a nurse with a lot of experience working in the Emergency Dept., I knew in my heart none of this was considered "normal" or even "acceptable" even if it was due to the initial diagnosis we were given. It just didn’t add up. Though he did not feel well another concern I had was the prolonged sitting in the same spot not moving about or getting up, explaining that he could very well develop a DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis), not too mention anemia. After voicing my urgent concerns of his worsening condition, demanding he go back to the ED it was time for round II.
Knowing he’d receive prompt and wonderful care we took him to a nearby Emergency Dept. where I had been blessed to work along side some of the nurses working that day and entrusted the care they would provide. I requested that he at least get his CBC (complete blood count) redrawn along with some other tests/procedures. Platelet levels had dropped to a critical value needing a platelet transfusion. However due to the shortage of blood products in the surrounding areas and requesting STAT platelets from the Red Cross it wasn’t until many hours later we infused the platelets. Labs were redrawn and the next morning we were upgraded to a higher level of care. Most of the labs were WNR, however his platelets barely increased causing concern, thus dropping down again. A Chest CT was remarkable for Bilateral Pulmonary Embolisms as well as an US on his lower extremities, which confirmed a DVT in one of his legs. Specialists were consulted due the concern that his body was attacking & destroying the platelets that had been infused yet it was baffling to all that most of his other labs were “okay.” His hemoglobin and Hematocrit levels did drop but not enough to need a transfusion despite the prolonged bleeding.
To fast forward it was concluded that he was indeed suffering from Vaccine Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia with Symptomatic Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation.
Two rounds of IVIG (Immunoglobulin) were given + low dose anticoagulants to help dissolve the clots.
After spending 6 days in the ICU/PCU we were able to get him discharged and bring him home to continue the current regimen he was on while hospitalized. The battle still continues, but we’re hopeful. Had he not gone in when he did the result would have been terminal.
Since his platelets have increased significantly after receiving 2 rounds of IVIG & most of the other labs were WNR, and other diagnostic studies were unremarkable at this time the specialists felt we’d be safe to have him recover at home. We still need to complete the MRV scan as an out pt.
I’m still pretty nervous since IVIG only lasts approx. 11 days that his Plts may drop again.
He of course still has the bilateral PE’s in his lungs & DVT in his LE & some of the same symptoms he was admitted with.
He’ll have to remain on anticoagulants for several months.
We have Home Health and PT in the works. He is extremely weak, still short of breath, coughing a lot & has difficulty ambulating even with a walker, but I am having him get up, taking it slowly with assistance.
We’ll be continuing his treatment plan w/the hematologist/oncologist, urology as well as his PMD.
For now we’re just taking it one day at a time. Not out of the woods yet, it’ll be a long road to recovery. But we’re remaining hopeful & working to keep his spirits up.
On another note we want to THANK EVERYONE from the bottom of our hearts for the continued well wishes, thoughts & prayers. The amount of responses, messages & calls we’ve received has been overwhelming (all in a good way).
We’ve literally gotten hundreds of messages of support & prayers from across the US.
Anything helps; we really appreciate all of the support and love everyone has shown.
With Love,
Tracy
