Hi, my name is Darlene Rebenstrof and I'm William Szenda's Significant other for over 25 years. I have been William's advocate for these last 4 months of his Extended Hospitalization stay and we're still counting. Were asking everyone to rally around him during this incredibly challenging time. I've created this "GoFundMe Page" to help tackle the significant mounting expenses he will face throughout his recovery. Thank you for your time and any support you can offer whether it's a donation, sharing this Link, or spreading the word.

On Friday March 14th William had difficulty breathing and I rushed him to our local Hospital. (Round 1 at the local Hospital). The local Hospital needed to transfer William to a Hospital that has a more Skilled Surgical Team combined with Leading Edge Techology, A Level 1 Trauma Center. (Round 1 at Surgical Hospital). After a Long Scary 12 Hour Open Heart Surgery, William was up and walking and was sent home four (4) days after his Surgery. William was only home for twenty-four (24) hours when he was having trouble breathing again. We had to return back to our local Hospital. (Round 2 at Local Hospital). While they were assessing William's condition and deciding a course of action, I went home to pick-up William's necessities. Before I could return to the Hospital, I received a phone call from a staff member at the Hospital informing me of the devastating news that William unexpectedly flatlined. After I had a terrifying heart pounding ride back to the Hospital, I witnessed William have two (2) more unexpected flatlines over the next few hours. Later that day I saw a fourth (4th) flatline starting and helped stop that fourth (4th) one by, commandeering the Nursing Team to come stop that flat line and save him. William was then transported back to the Surgical Hospital. (Round 2 Surgical Hospital).

This was the start of more than a Dozen Serious Surgeries and Procedures after his initial Heart Surgery including placing 2 Stents, installing ports, and inserting catheters. During these procedures he was placed on Life Support Machines including a Heart Bypass, Kidney Dialysis, and a Ventilator. After all this, William had yet another Operation to install a Pacemaker/Defibrillator. However, after that Surgery, William had yet another problem, he started vomiting. He was constantly feeling nauseous. The nausea and vomiting continued. Despite William's inability to keep food down, he was dismissed from the Hospital to go to Rehab. (Round 1 Rehab. Hospital).

While at the Rehab. Hospital, He continued to have nausea and vomiting and lost one third (1/3) of his weight. Because of the Doctor's restriction of William's fluids, the time spent at the Rehab. Hospital was made more difficult. Because of his inability to keep food down he was unable to full participate in Physical Therapy although he tried. On one particular bad day because William suddenly wasn't acting like himself, I was greatly alarmed so I stayed the night with him. The next day William continued to get worse so I requested to stay the night again and I was furious and scared when I was refused. Despite my protest I was not allowed to stay with him that night. I was worried when I got back home I called the Rehab. Hospital and could not reach anyone to get William's status. After a barrage of phone calls from myself and several concerned friends to the facility I finally reached someone and was told he was stable. I still spent a sleepless night worrying

When the night staff team alerted the incoming morning staff to check in on William, an RN took charge and immediately called for a Ambulance. Then she called me But I was already on my way there. When I arrived I had to pack up Wiliam's belongings and followed the Ambulance back to the Surgical Hospital's Emergency Room. (Round 3 Surgical Hospital). After waiting 13 Long Hours in the Emergency Room, William was finally admitted and given a room. With in a few hours they performed a Endoscopy to try to determine the cause of his vomiting at the same time, they inserted a Feeding Tube to fight his Malnutrition.

The first (1st) attempt of food from the Feeding Tube was rejected and had to be changed to another type. Another Test William had to go through was "Barium Sulfate" for a CT Scan. In trying to determine why William had trouble with eating, it was discussed that there could be damaged to the "Vegas Nerve," or his stomach had shrunken, or it was the aftermath of the Truma from all his Surgeries and Procedures. Despite William's struggle to eat and maintain his weight, and even though we knew he still had some Procedure's yet to be performed and were incomplete, the Surgical Hospital shipped him back to the Rehab. Hospital. (Round 2 Rehab. Hospital).

The Rehab. Hospital was very diligent and did a complete reevaluation, including a Contrast X-Ray, Numerous Blood Tests, and started Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy. William started to gain weight and actively participating in all his Therapies. However, then it was decided to change some of his Medicines by his Cardiologist Surgeon, William adversely reacted to the New Medicines and started retaining fluid. He developed an incessantly Itchy Rash for nearly a Month. He also started having more trouble breathing and had to rely on Oxygen. They did more Blood Tests, didn't like the results, and once again decided to send him back to his Local Hospital. (Round 3 Local Hospital).

For the next 2 weeks the Local Hospital tried to balance Williams Medications so they could send him home. To do this they had to gather the "Opinions" of thee General Physician, Cardiologist, and Nephrologist Teams. By trial and error they tried several different Medication and Combinations. They had to devise a plan and it took nearly two weeks to create a plan of action. Before he left they decided he would need Intermittent Kidney Dialysis for a while and Re-Installed the Catheter in his chest. Unfortunately, this time the Kidney Dialysis started to bother him making him sick, when it had not before. With this trial plan, they released him to go home.

This began a period of constant adjustments to Diet and Medicines, frequent Blood Tests to check on his Blood levels, and visits to the Nurse Practitioner at the Cardiac Heart Clinic to check on his progress. He will als have Periodic Visits to his cardiologist who will also Enroll him in Outpatient Cardio Rehabilitation Therapy and Monitor the Readings from William's Pacemaker/Defibrillator. However, William was not even home three weeks when he had to return back to the Local Hospital Emergency Room of the Hospital. Because William's "Electro Lights" were "Dangerously Out of Balance." (Round 4 Local Hospital). We urged Williams Team of Doctors to Coordinate there efforts to readjust his Medicines. And to consult with each other to get him back in sync. Now, after being in the Local Hospital for another seven (7) days all his Doctors came up with a List of Medications that should keep William in total balance. This is just the beginning of William's return to getting back to his life. He's hopeful to regain his strength and be able to return to work.

Meanwhile, the "Bills" are accumulating. For instance, the only way to safely park when William was in Critical Condition at the Downtown Surgical Hospital, was to use the Hospital Parking Garage. Who would ever think that the Parking Bill would Accumulate over $600.00? The Parking Garage was expensive because when you're leaving at all times of the night and early morning, they would charge for every single day whether you left or not. Just traveling from the Suburbs to the Downtown Hospital and back, was expensive because of the Cost of Gasoline.

We are afraid to open up the stack of Medical Bills that have been arriving in our Mailbox Daily. We can't even guess what the Total Medical Expenses will be when we consider all his Surgeries, Anesthesia, Kidney Dialysis, X-Rays, Medical Fee's, Surgeons and Doctor Fee's, Medicines, and Lab Fee's, etc. And these Medical Bills keep coming.

When William's Emergency began in March Darlene was recovering from her own Surgery and was going to Surgeon Appointments, Physical Therapy and is not yet able to return back to Her Full-time Job. Now with William's Emergency, William is not generating any income because he's not able to work right now.

William still has a long recovery ahead of him. Were hoping with continued visits to the Cardiac Heart Clinic Monitoring, Doctor Visits, with Frequent Blood Testing, and Lab work, William's Heart and Kidneys hopefully will regain there full Healthy Functions. We are working on His recovery day by day. We know he will need Extensive Rehabilitation Therapy as well to regain his strength, but I know he's a Fighter and William will recover from this.

Please Help by Spreading the Word and Share William's Story and this "GoFundMe Link" with your Friends. Or if you open your heart to generously give to us directly, it will be greatly appreciated. From one day to another, at this moment were financially overwhelmed. We trust with the support of all our friends and family we'll get through this. If you post this on your Facebook, or you send this in a Group Chat, or Post on Social Media, or E-Mail a Friend, it could really make a difference. Any contributions large or small will bring comfort and relief to us while we are going through this crisis. Your generosity will help us to continue to focus on William's recovery and return to health.

All proceeds from this "GoFundMe" will go towards supporting any out-of-pocket medical expenses William will in cure and any needs there may be. While William recovers and until he is able to return back to work.

William and Darlene would like to Thank Our Friends and Family for any help you may offer us through this difficult time. Although it's just the beginning of this long and uphill climb, your love and support will give us at least the confidence and a place to start to continue the fight. We are very grateful for all of the people in our lives.

We want To Thank Everyone for your kindness who helps us and continues to help support us.

Thank You,

William and Darlene