Tod DeBie and his Family

Our family has been swamped with requests about how they can help, & many people have suggested that we start this account.  Tod is not the type of person to ask for help.  As a matter of fact, someone asked him if they could start a Go Fund Me already, and he said, “No thank you”.  Tod is our brother – I am Lindsey Bolen & my brother Troy DeBie and I want to do what we can to help him.  I’m pretty sure he will be upset with us, but we figure it’s better to beg for forgiveness, than to ask permission. ;D 

     Tod is very ill, and has been fighting for his life for three months now, & has not been able to work.  His wife Regan has been caring for Tod & the kids, so she has not been able to work either.  They have medical insurance, but will owe a huge amount, as the medical bills are way into the six digits at this point.  They have emptied their bank accounts, and have no money left.  They have no way to earn any money at the moment.  They cannot go to their house, as it is too far from the hospital, and are staying in a hotel by the hospital – thankfully someone has donated the money to pay for that so far.  They have no friends or relatives where they are, so there is no support system for them in Columbia, Missouri.  When Tod is well enough to travel, we need to find a way to get him to Idaho safely.  He cannot fly in a pressurized cabin, because of the brain swelling, so we are looking into renting a motor home or something where he could lie down.  We also need to find a way to pack their belongings, and move them to Idaho as well.  Tod’s immune system will always be compromised, so we are unsure if/when he will be able to work.  Regan is one class short of her associates’ degree, and she had planned to go into the nursing program.  This is now something that is now necessary, but not easy with so many to support.  So these funds will go directly to Tod and his family for travel, moving expenses, medical bills, paying his normal bills while he is out of work, & all of the other costs of normal everyday life with his wife and 5 kids. 

Tod’s story:
     Tod & his wife Regan of 17 years, have 5 children.  Dyln 16, Dru 14, Devan 11, Ella 9 and Emmy 8.  They moved their family to Missouri last January.  Tod’s health has been declining for about three years, but doctors didn’t identify the source of his symptoms until July, 2015.  On Friday, July 17th Tod underwent brain surgery to remove a pituitary gland tumor in the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, at the University of Missouri.  The tumor was not cancerous & the surgery was successful.  Tod went home to recuperate. It was determined at that time it would be best if he and his family returned to Idaho, to be closer to family and friends.  So, Tod & Regan’s two older boys went to live with Tod’s parents (Rob & Susie DeBie) in Idaho when school started, to begin the family’s transition to Idaho.  The plan was that the family would follow as soon as possible.
     The first 3 or 4 weeks of recovery were rough, but eventually Tod felt well enough to go back to work.  His first full day of work went well (9/11), but by the end of the day, he had a massive headache.  He got home, and went to bed.  Doctors were called & they advised Regan to give him Tylenol.  By morning, Tod did not wake up.  Tod was transported by ambulance to the nearest small hospital, one hour away.  From there, the life flight team rode in the ambulance with him to Columbia, Missouri.  They diagnosed him with meningococcal meningitis, which almost took his life.  He spent the next several days going in and out of a coma.  It was very touch and go with fevers that would spike to 105°, seizures, temporary loss of eye sight, motor skills, memory, etc.  Doctors told us he has the equivalent of a brain and spinal cord injury.  He still has blurry/double vision, and a few other issues that will eventually resolve.  They gave him mega doses of antibiotics for two weeks.
     When he was finally released, he stayed in a hotel across from the hospital, where they will return when he is released, until they move to Idaho.  Their home is 2 hours from the hospital- too far to be safe, he must stay close.  He still needed an IV pic line with medications twice daily.  Tod has been in & out of the ER several times since his release.  Tod was admitted to the ICU for four days this week, the result of a severe reaction to medications, where he went into anaphylactic shock.  He is still currently admitted, & they say he will need constant blood tests, & close observation by a medical team for months, as they are concerned about damage to his lungs, liver and kidneys from the medicine reaction. 
     This reaction has caused a syndrome called DRESS (Drug Reaction (or Rash) with Eosinophilia & Systemic Symptoms).  It causes a horrible rash, fevers & inflammation of internal organs. The healing process from DRESS is very long, miserable for the patient.  He has suffered through heart attack & stroke scares, sepsis – it has been one thing after another.  He has not gone two full days since 10/11 without a new medical issue appearing.
     We are awaiting test results to see if Tod must have surgery to repair a hole that may have occurred, where surgeons entered through his sinus cavity to extract his tumor.  He will also be having a follow-up MRI to determine whether or not they got the whole tumor, or if it’s growing back, which may require surgery or radiation.
     The three younger kids have gone to Idaho to reunite with their siblings at their grandparent’s house, and go to school.  They anxiously await their dad getting better & their parents joining them.
   
**More importantly than any amount of money~ We believe in God, and we believe in the power of prayer.  We know that the prayers of many are what has brought Tod through the worst parts of this journey.  Please join us in continuing to pray for healing for Tod, so that he can continue his job as a husband and daddy.  There is no amount of money that can replace him, and the role he plays in all our lives.  Thank you!