Lou SantaCross

Hello friends and to those who may not know me. My name is Lou Santacross. I have been a local here in Southwest Florida now for approximately 33 years. What I'm about to tell you I have previously decided not to post on social media such as Facebook and Twitter  due to the nature of my medical situation. In early 2015 I became very ill.  As I was at my worst and fearing for death, surgeons decided to save my life. They performed open heart surgery and replaced on of my heart valves, which happens to be a common procedure done today. My surgery however came with other problems and complications. They found that my right lung was partially collapsed with loculated pleural effusion that could not be removed without more surgery. The diagnosis I received from doctors were scary. Pericarditis, endocarditis, swollen heart, swollen pancreas, type 2 diabetes, a rare form of costochondritis, and mrsa. To make matters worse they found that my aortic valve has only a few more years of life left, and that it would have to be changed when I undergo my second tricuspid surgery in approximately 2020. All of this over the course of 2 1/2  years, 11 hospital visits, some resulting in stays of more than 6 weeks at a time. I also found out that I am in need of 6 oral surgeries to prevent a particular bacteria from entering my bloodstream. Some will say that this is just a product of my young and reckless years, but doctors are quite certain that they have pinned down the complications to a new development. The metal suture around my sternum from my initial heart surgery has been causing an infection for a very long time rendering me very sick over the last few years. The official name for what is happening to me at the moment is (DSWI) deep sternal wound infection with (MRSA) which is been the cause of many many many fatalities which came at the same time as finding out I also now have type 2 diabetes. I have done my very best in public and face to face with you all to not show any signs or symptoms of this, and every single time I have went to do work it has always came with a punishment. Those who know me know I try really hard not to show it and I also don't normally ask for anything from anybody. I don't want sympathy or apologies. All I want is for those reading this to understand that life can be very short and it is very important for you to love those who are near to you. I am currently in the hospital and I am sorry but I am not having visitors due to the fact that I am ill, am being medicated, and quite frankly I am absolutely exhausted.  I will be here until the end of November. Unfortunately I have exhausted all resources and funds available to me over the last few years and I am in extreme financial burden. Although myself, my ego, and my self esteem said no to "go fund me", my closest of friends said yes, so they asked me to write this up  so that they could handle the rest. So, if you could only imagine, I can use anything you can spare to give, even something as simple as pressing the "share" button. Thanks to all,

Lou

That was hard to write. My name is Nick Larson and I have known Lou from the age of about 13. This part is specifically for the people who know Lou and have personal experiences with him. It's Weege! We all know him by a few different names, but we all know who he is and the big heart he has. Unfortunately that heart is in trouble. If you have made it this far down the page, than you have the time. If you have the time than you can certainly at the least press the share button to help save someone you know. We all need help, some more than others. Put yourself in his position and just try to understand what he is going through and then ask what would you do. Everyone counts, every dollar counts. You may think that just one person won't  make a big difference but you can. Think about degrees. You are just one degree, but if you join 211 other degrees you become 212 degrees and you can boil water which creates steam and can power a locomotive!!!! Every dollar counts!! Please give and or share!!! His life may depend on it!