We Reached the Goal!Bo's Defib Fund

My younger brother, Bo, recently got diagnosed with heart failure, a condition that normally happens overtime as the heart ages and begins to deteriorate. This past May, he began feeling really crappy and was admitted into the ER and ended up being hospitalized for 4 days until all of his organs were properly working again. He could barely walk from one post to another without stopping to catch his breath because his kidneys, lungs and heart were all functioning abnormally. When he got admitted, the doctors were not able to identify the cause of his conditions: swollen legs, high heart rate, low blood pumping through his heart valves, unable to urinate and immense weakness. After an MRI, echo-cardiogram testing, blood samples and several other tests; they sent him home with a life vest (external defibrillator) because he is at risk of going into cardiac arrest at any moment. 

At the time, it felt surreal. My younger brother, 24 years old, having heart problems. He was a healthy, energetic, lively and living life to its fullest regular guy. It was hard for my family and I to believe that anything was wrong with him, but it really hit hard when I sat through a doctor’s appointment with my brother and the doctor explained to us the short term necessary medical actions of getting a defibrillator implanted and long term solutions would be a heart transplant. I realized at that moment that I could outlive my younger brother.

After multiple denied requests, his insurance has finally approved his needed procedure. On Friday, October 2nd, Bo will undergo surgery and get a defibrillator implanted. This will connect a thin wire directly to his heart which is monitored by a small device that is surgically implanted right below his collarbone. In an event of a heart failure, his life would be saved by sending a jolt to revive his heart. 

I'm asking you, friends, family, and strangers who share my story, to help with my brother's medical bills. He is a working college student pursuing a bachelor's degree in Computer Science at the University of Washington in Tacoma. Thankfully he has medical insurance through his workplace but only earns enough to get by day-to-day. He's putting his studies on hold until his medical condition stabilizes. It's a big deal for him to pursue higher education and we hope to keep his spirits high to return back to school. 

Bo is an absolute trooper, while this is devastating news for a young adult, he continues to look on the bright side and takes it one day at a time. I know it must be hard and frustrating for him to navigate the medical bills, doctor's appointments and fully understand what the next steps are.... So, I wanted to help take one less stress from his shoulders. If you can help by donating to Bo's Defibrillator Fund, we would be so grateful! All my life I have taken pride in supporting my family but I've realized that I can't do it myself. I need your support and Bo needs your support, any amount will help. We're not sure what the final medical will be for this year, but we're glad that we're one step closer to getting him better. Thank you for keeping him in your thoughts and please, please, please give you can.