Richard Rehkopf - Class of 1975

On January 11, 2016, Richard Rehkopf, healthy at 59, walked into SFMC to undergo a dangerous, but in today’s standards, a routine surgery to correct two aneurysms on the iliac arteries.  The surgery as planned did not happen. Upon opening the abdomen and attempting to lift the first aneurysm for correction, it became apparent that the (much larger than expected) aneurysm had fused to the iliac vein lying under it,  it ripped in two places and then shredded as two surgeons urgently attempted to repair it. Richard bled out into his abdomen. Massive blood loss is almost always fatal; Richard was vented and put on constant dialysis and moved to the CICU ward.  The abdomen was  left open due to swelling.  On an attempt to close the abdomen two days later, Richard suffered a blood clot to the lung and surgery was cancelled.  The next day he underwent surgery to insert two filters to collect the blood clots.  He remained vented by a tube down the throat for weeks due to  not being able to sustain viability for surgery to close him or the trach.  Finally at three weeks, his incision was mostly closed. He slid downhill for four days as organs began to shut down: lungs, kidneys, liver, stomach, bowels and blood platelets dropped to only 10,000 total.  His family gathered and gave it to God, begging friends, family ,even strangers to a call for prayer for complete restoration.  As days passed, his numbers climbed, extremely slowly, only a couple of points a day.  Finally, he was able to be trached and things started moving forward. His liver returned, his stomach & bowels, his kidneys and lungs.  He was moved at five weeks to in-house rehab and released at seven weeks and one day.  He still has an open wound, bound toes (hoping to keep them all! -  they suffered total blood loss and were in danger of amputation.)  He still faces a cath lab procedure to place stints in the aneurysms, too….the surgery that didn’t, and now never will, happen. 

He was released as an independent which is a miracle. He has no cognitive damage and is healing but homebound by order with home health care.  Richard’s family never left his side during this time, updating distant family and all friends continually throughout the journey. They came together and installed an entire bathroom in his home on the main level so he could be released.  They, along with his girlfriend, continue to care for him on a daily basis, changing bandages, running errands, getting him to doctor appointments, cooking for him, and more. 

Richard is disabled and operated his own lawn care business for supplemental income.  He will no longer be able to continue this business. Though his most basic bills are covered by the disability he receives, there is no extra income to cover the substantial increased costs of prescriptions, food, or gas (though he cannot drive until May at least.) 

Your prayers have brought this man back from death’s door and Richard is humbled by your care & his family is greatly appreciative, too. If you would like to assist in support for Richard over the coming months until he can return to some type of supplemental work, your generosity will be greatly appreciated.