Jim’s Heart Recovery Fund

The last thing we expected two days after Jim and Beth came to visit us from Hong Kong to Milwaukee was that Jim would have a major heart attack. He had emergency quadruple bypass surgery that same night and was in the ICU for over a week to recover. He should be released from the hospital soon.

Those first few days were hell. We spent days in the hospital worrying over his heart, then his lungs (oxygen needs and potential pneumonia), and then his head (he was “this close” to pulling out his own ventilator tube because he was so frustrated he could not communicate with us).  Now that they are preparing him for release from the hospital we have new worries: what will his international insurance cover (they still haven’t told us), how can we extend his and Beth’s stay (will the airlines accommodate this?), and how will they afford to go for months without dad working. 

Jim missed out on his high school reunion, Summerfest, the Renaissance festival and a Brewers game - but he did not miss out on his life. For that we will forever be thankful.

If anyone is willing and able to contribute a few dollars to help keeps some of the financial burden stress away, the Viges clan would be most appreciative. In the words of the great Jim Viges: “Good excuse for missing a class reunion... a massive heart attack and quadruple bypass! Healing now...”