Helping Hearts for Aaron Ulrich

I’ve known Alison for 22 years now, through my stepdaughter. We’ve stayed in touch over theyears, but it wasn’t until recently that we developed a deeper connection once her husband, Aaron, was in the hospital having heart issues. Upon messaging details of our situations, we realized we both have relatively young loved ones with heart issues, in which they both were dealing with infectious disease doctors, having to use an intravenous PICC line for antibiotics,
and even had birthdays a week apart from one another. Understanding how difficult what they were going through could be and recognizing the financial impact of something so severe and so unexpected could take, I felt compelled to share Aaron’s story in efforts to aid in their recent
financial burden.
     On November 23rd, 2020, Aaron began experiencing a fever, fatigue, chills, night sweats, weakness, and a headache. Immediately assuming it was Covid, he went to Urgent Care the next day. Test results for Covid were negative and he was told to stay home until the “virus” passed. Aaron quarantined for 10 days; during those 10 days, he had a virtual doctor’s visit, two more Urgent Care trips with two more negative Covid tests, as well as normal blood and urine
analysis results. He was sent home and told the same thing each time - wait out the virus. As time passed, Aaron and Alison knew whatever was going on was more than just a “virus”, something just wasn’t right.
     Finally on December 4th, things came to a head as Aaron fell to the ground in the shower, too weak to stand. He was told to go back to Urgent Care (for a fourth time) in which he was eventually admitted to the ER for further testing. Another (negative) Covid test, more bloodwork, a chest X-Ray, spinal tap, EKG, CT scan, and an MRI later still didn’t reveal clear answers.
     Was it a Tick-Borne Disease? Was it Cancer? Was it an unlikely infection in his heart?
     The ER admitted him to the Critical Decision Unit (CDU) to continue trying to figure out the source of Aaron’s symptoms. After blood cultures revealed a bacterial infection in his bloodstream and a Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE test) showed a bacterial infection in his heart, Aaron was finally given the diagnosis of Endocarditis two days after being admitted to the CDU and almost two weeks after his symptoms began. His infectious disease doctor started
him on antibiotics to fight the infection through an intravenous PICC line in his arm, however his heart was still a concern. It was possible the bacteria did too much damage to the mitral valve and that the antibiotics wouldn’t be enough. Heart surgery was talked about but the surgeon wanted to wait and see how effective the antibiotics were first. After five days in the hospital, he was sent home to carry out his treatment plan with the PICC line, antibiotics, and weekly
in-home nursing services including dressing changes on his arm and continued bloodwork.
     The source of the bacterial infection in his blood that led to the infection in his heart, is still unknown. The infectious disease doctor told him his case was so rare that he could count on his hands and toes the cases like his. Aaron did not present the more notorious symptoms for this life-threatening heart condition, nor was he in a high risk category for getting it. It was thanks to his persistence and advocacy for his own health that finally led him to the diagnosis and
ultimately the road to recovery from Endocarditis.
    On December 22nd, another TEE procedure was done that revealed the regurgitation on his mitral valve went from “mild/moderate” to “severe”. These results landed him an appointment with the heart surgeon, with open heart surgery scheduled for January 21st. The cardiologist is going to attempt to repair the mitral valve, but it’s possible the valve will need to be replaced all
together. The four plus hour long surgery will result in a three to seven day hospital stay and three to five weeks out of work, in addition to the three weeks of work he had to miss in December, after his paid time off had already run out.
     If you are moved by Aaron’s story and feel compelled to show your Helping Heart by donating to this fund, Aaron, Alison, and their three boys thank you very much. All donations will help themwith their extensive hospital bills, doctor’s visits, the cost of the antibiotics, the in-home nursing services, the open heart surgery, as well as their missed time from work for both, as their family
is financially dependent on both of their incomes.
    Thank you for taking the time to donate, share, or simply read Aaron’s story, it is greatly appreciated.