Mike Bailey

On Friday November 13th, Mike Bailey began feeling ill with flu-like symptoms.  He arrived to the ER around 3 a.m.  and was unconscious, intubated and sedated in the ICU diagnosed with sepsis by 7 a.m.  He was urgently taken to the operating room and underwent an exploratory laparotomy to decompress his abdomen.  Within 12 hours of the first surgery, he returned to the OR where additional surgeons were called in to assist in removing necrotic bowel, duodenum, and pancreas.  He was returned to ICU in very critical condition.   On the following Tuesday he underwent a third surgery; however,  the surgeons were unable to perform the difficult procedure needed to resect his bowel and elected to transfer him to OHSU in Portland (more than 3 hours away).  The surgeons and other surgeons who have been consulted are baffled by his illness.  No cause has been identified.  His wife (my sister), Michelle, will be unable to return to work for an indefinite period of time as she advocates and cares for Mike.  Their eldest daughter, Jessica, is a junior at Western Oregon University and works 2 jobs as caregiver for physically/mentally disabled individuals.  Sarah is the starting freshman goalkeeper at Linfield College, and thier youngest, Sean, is a freshman at Mountain View High School where his older sisters graduated.   Mike has been part of my family for 26 years.  He is my sister's  husband and best friend.  He has operated as a paint contractor in the Central Oregon region for over 10 years.  He is a loved and respected member of this community, and after years of helping others whenever possible, he and his family need assistance.  He will need weeks to months of hospitalization and additional surgeries.  His recovery will take up to a year without any income for either him or his wife; his children as students will be unable to assist. If you can, please help this amazing family; anything helps.