RJ's Medical Fund - Heart Surgery
Donation protected
I would like to share the story of my nephew RJ. Those around him know that he is truly special. RJ has been a dedicated student, a hard worker, and physically active young man with a great love of sports. Anybody who knows RJ would describe him as “full of life”. However, in fact, he does not have much longer to live.
RJ was diagnosed four years ago with mitral valve prolapse. It’s a condition in which the valve flaps of the mitral valve don’t evenly close. At the time, he was just taking maintenance aspirin to thin the blood to prevent thrombus (blood clot), which often is a complication of this disease. However, as the years have gone by, he has gotten worse. He has now developed arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), hypertension, enlarged heart, valve leakage, and thrombus. Doctors had placed him on Coumadin, a blood thinner to prevent stroke or heart attack. He has gotten worse now that his oxygenation is at a concerning 87-88% on room air while at rest. His legs are swollen most of the time and therefore he has now been placed on diuretics (water pill). He is currently on multiple heart medications to help his heart pump blood more efficiently.
This past week, according to his doctors, he has arrived at the point of needing immediate heart surgery. He needs a mitral valve and aortic valve replacement as his organs are slowly failing. As his condition worsens, this young man should be an inpatient in a hospital but, due to poverty, he’s being seen for a weekly check up in order to lessen the accumulation of hospital bills. But even with this, his family continues to incur tremendous medical expenses due to costly medications, necessary blood work and diagnostic tests.
The family’s income is nowhere near sufficient to cover the mounting medical bills and impending surgery for which they must raise money to pay the hospital prior to being admitted. The cost is approximately one million pesos ($25,000.00). Please help anyway you can. A young man’s future is at stake.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
RJ was diagnosed four years ago with mitral valve prolapse. It’s a condition in which the valve flaps of the mitral valve don’t evenly close. At the time, he was just taking maintenance aspirin to thin the blood to prevent thrombus (blood clot), which often is a complication of this disease. However, as the years have gone by, he has gotten worse. He has now developed arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), hypertension, enlarged heart, valve leakage, and thrombus. Doctors had placed him on Coumadin, a blood thinner to prevent stroke or heart attack. He has gotten worse now that his oxygenation is at a concerning 87-88% on room air while at rest. His legs are swollen most of the time and therefore he has now been placed on diuretics (water pill). He is currently on multiple heart medications to help his heart pump blood more efficiently.
This past week, according to his doctors, he has arrived at the point of needing immediate heart surgery. He needs a mitral valve and aortic valve replacement as his organs are slowly failing. As his condition worsens, this young man should be an inpatient in a hospital but, due to poverty, he’s being seen for a weekly check up in order to lessen the accumulation of hospital bills. But even with this, his family continues to incur tremendous medical expenses due to costly medications, necessary blood work and diagnostic tests.
The family’s income is nowhere near sufficient to cover the mounting medical bills and impending surgery for which they must raise money to pay the hospital prior to being admitted. The cost is approximately one million pesos ($25,000.00). Please help anyway you can. A young man’s future is at stake.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Organizer
Beverly Astudillo
Organizer
Round Lake Beach, IL