Aid in Jim's Medical Expenses
Donation protected
Husband/Dad/Grandpa/Brother/Uncle/Friend Jim AKA "Vandy" AKA "Papa" AKA "Unc" AKA "Big Ears" embarked on a Caribbean cruise with his brother (Big Lou), his sister-in-law (Cindy), and friend (Steve) last weekend. Unfortunately, while at sea, he suffered from a heart attack. He received emergency care onboard and was then tranferred to a small Caribbean hospital that required payment up-front for services upon arrival to port at the island of St Maarten.
Communication with hospital staff has been challenging, and it was initially thought that Jim would be under observation for a couple (or few) days until he was safe to travel back to the states via commercial flight.
Jim's son, Eric, was able to travel quickly to St Maarten to be at his bedside during this observation. Eric then found that there were different plans. Hospital staff then communicated that Jim would need a cardiac cath/percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure to open blockages within his heart. This procedure is unable to be performed at the St Maarten hospital. Also, while Jim is stable, he still would not be able to fly safely via commercial flight.
Jim's children - Connie, Tina, and Eric - have worked feverishly to coordinate care and have been able to communicate with St Maarten hospital staff, Jim's primary care doc, representatives from his insurance company, and Global Air Response medivac. The plan at this point is for the medivac to fly TO the island on Friday and then to have medical personel accompany him on the tenuous 8-hour medivac flight back to Madison on Saturday. He will then immediately be taken to University Hospital (phew!) for the cardiac cath/PCI procedure.
Even if insurance covers some of these bills, there will still be numerous medical expenses, including the cruise ship and island medical bills, medivac flight and care, ambulance to the hospital, and medical bills back home. Jim will also need to take additional time off of work, making paying for these bills that much more challenging. Any assistance you can offer - even if not financial - prayers and positive, encouraging thoughts are much appreciated.
Jim's angel love of his life, Linda, has been keeping good watch and will be soaring on the wings of the medivac flight home and to watch over a safe and effective procedure and recovery back in WI.
You got this, Unc! :)
Communication with hospital staff has been challenging, and it was initially thought that Jim would be under observation for a couple (or few) days until he was safe to travel back to the states via commercial flight.
Jim's son, Eric, was able to travel quickly to St Maarten to be at his bedside during this observation. Eric then found that there were different plans. Hospital staff then communicated that Jim would need a cardiac cath/percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure to open blockages within his heart. This procedure is unable to be performed at the St Maarten hospital. Also, while Jim is stable, he still would not be able to fly safely via commercial flight.
Jim's children - Connie, Tina, and Eric - have worked feverishly to coordinate care and have been able to communicate with St Maarten hospital staff, Jim's primary care doc, representatives from his insurance company, and Global Air Response medivac. The plan at this point is for the medivac to fly TO the island on Friday and then to have medical personel accompany him on the tenuous 8-hour medivac flight back to Madison on Saturday. He will then immediately be taken to University Hospital (phew!) for the cardiac cath/PCI procedure.
Even if insurance covers some of these bills, there will still be numerous medical expenses, including the cruise ship and island medical bills, medivac flight and care, ambulance to the hospital, and medical bills back home. Jim will also need to take additional time off of work, making paying for these bills that much more challenging. Any assistance you can offer - even if not financial - prayers and positive, encouraging thoughts are much appreciated.
Jim's angel love of his life, Linda, has been keeping good watch and will be soaring on the wings of the medivac flight home and to watch over a safe and effective procedure and recovery back in WI.
You got this, Unc! :)
Organizer and beneficiary
Shelly Vandenbergh
Organizer
Waunakee, WI
Connie Vacho
Beneficiary
