Long-Term Medical Care Facility

Before Scott’s health declined he was an actively involved father, a committed participant in his church and community and a hardworking man who worked in the paving industry for over 30 years. Unfortunately, many things in his life changed as he started to have more problems walking and couldn’t think or remember things as clearly as before. These issues that he was dealing with made it difficult for him to perform the best he could at his job. He was let go from his job and his family knew it was time to get some answers regarding his health. He went to Utah; there, he was able to be surrounded by family and he had better connections to neurologists. After many tests and doctor appointments, Scott was diagnosed with NPH, normal pressure hydrocephalus. This diagnosis meant that he had extra fluid in his brain and it affected the way he walked and thought, among other functions. The solution was to go into surgery to put a shunt in his brain to drain the fluid and relieve pressure on his brain. This seemed like an answer to prayers, his walking and thinking seemed to improve almost immediately. After these improvements were made and it seemed as though he could function at a normal level, he went back to California. After some time, something didn’t seem right with him. It was as if he was worse than he was before he started treatment when one day he couldn’t walk at all and he couldn’t speak coherently. He was rushed to the hospital where they could not give any answers. Scott’s family was desperate to know the problem as his condition worsened by the day. It got to the point where he was completely unconscious and unresponsive. His wife knew he needed to be transferred to a different hospital after a week of no answers and the steady declination of his overall health. As soon as he was transferred, the doctors knew something was very wrong and put him into surgery right away. They found that his shunt was not functioning properly and the doctors replaced it. However, the results were not the same as before with the immediate improvement of his functions; he still wasn’t completely himself. Further tests revealed that the broken shunt and the long period of unconsciousness from the previous hospital had caused a lesion, permanent damage to his brain. Damage that cannot be restored. Scott is a very different person today. He has difficulty thinking clearly and coherently, he cannot make a meal for himself, and his once funny, light and loving personality has dimmed significantly. His family is doing everything they can to get him the best care possible. Scott needs 24 hour care for the rest of his life. The man who used to be the main financial support for himself and his wife will not be able to work again; this puts an enormous amount of financial pressure on the family. His wife, Wendy, is doing the best she can to be able to keep their home and give Scott a comfortable living situation where he can get the care he deserves and needs. She is trying to find a job in California, but it is proving to be difficult with the current pandemic. Any money given would go to Scott to ensure the best quality of life that is possible for him.