Lungs for Steve
Donation protected
Steve Kieswetter
Steve took ill in late March 2019. He was having trouble breathing and extremely tired. After seeing the doctor and having x-rays they suspected pneumonia and prescribed antibiotics. He did not improve and was constantly in touch with doctors. We got oxygen for him and it helped somewhat but his stats kept dropping to a dangerous level. April 11, I took him to Victoria Hospital where he was admitted and the tests began. On Sunday April 14 he had a Tracheal intubation done and was put in an induced coma to help ventilation of the lungs and to prevent the possibility of asphyxiation or airway obstruction. He was in the coma for 10 days.
After intensive testing, x-rays, biopsy they suspected several different causes as his lungs were extremely damaged.
Steve has been on several drugs for his rheumatoid arthritis over the years, one of them being prednisone which they have now weaned down to a what is considered a dose that he can tolerate .
It has been determined that his lungs are working at 32% and he is in need of a double lung transplant. He has Interstitial lung disease.
In order to receive this he has had to lose a lot of weight , he has succeeded to lose 51 lbs. while being in the hospital and relatively inactive. He also has to do physio 3 times a week which is very difficult because of the amount of oxygen he needs.
Friday, November 22 he finally got the news that he has been accepted to go to Toronto General for the transplant assessment. He will be there for 4 days and then transported back to Victoria Hospital in London were he will remain until the time of the transplant.
He will be required to stay in Toronto for 2-3 months after the transplant to attend the hospital daily. This will require him to have another residence there for him and his required team of caregivers, which is a minimum of 2 at all times. There will also be medical supplies needed that will not be covered. This means maintaining 2 residences at that time. There will be living expenses while there also.
Steve's Team:
Pat Blinkhorn, Steve's mom and his brother Chad Kieswetter
We are reaching out to help Steve afford these costs to alleviate any financial stress over and above.
This is an urgent requirement as financial ability is part of the requirements to have the transplant.
He is doing his part by following the medical and fitness requirements.
We are so proud of him for the determination he is showing over the last 7 months of being in the hospital.
Steve took ill in late March 2019. He was having trouble breathing and extremely tired. After seeing the doctor and having x-rays they suspected pneumonia and prescribed antibiotics. He did not improve and was constantly in touch with doctors. We got oxygen for him and it helped somewhat but his stats kept dropping to a dangerous level. April 11, I took him to Victoria Hospital where he was admitted and the tests began. On Sunday April 14 he had a Tracheal intubation done and was put in an induced coma to help ventilation of the lungs and to prevent the possibility of asphyxiation or airway obstruction. He was in the coma for 10 days.
After intensive testing, x-rays, biopsy they suspected several different causes as his lungs were extremely damaged.
Steve has been on several drugs for his rheumatoid arthritis over the years, one of them being prednisone which they have now weaned down to a what is considered a dose that he can tolerate .
It has been determined that his lungs are working at 32% and he is in need of a double lung transplant. He has Interstitial lung disease.
In order to receive this he has had to lose a lot of weight , he has succeeded to lose 51 lbs. while being in the hospital and relatively inactive. He also has to do physio 3 times a week which is very difficult because of the amount of oxygen he needs.
Friday, November 22 he finally got the news that he has been accepted to go to Toronto General for the transplant assessment. He will be there for 4 days and then transported back to Victoria Hospital in London were he will remain until the time of the transplant.
He will be required to stay in Toronto for 2-3 months after the transplant to attend the hospital daily. This will require him to have another residence there for him and his required team of caregivers, which is a minimum of 2 at all times. There will also be medical supplies needed that will not be covered. This means maintaining 2 residences at that time. There will be living expenses while there also.
Steve's Team:
Pat Blinkhorn, Steve's mom and his brother Chad Kieswetter
We are reaching out to help Steve afford these costs to alleviate any financial stress over and above.
This is an urgent requirement as financial ability is part of the requirements to have the transplant.
He is doing his part by following the medical and fitness requirements.
We are so proud of him for the determination he is showing over the last 7 months of being in the hospital.
Fundraising team (2)
Patricia Blinkhorn
Organizer
Steven Kieswetter
Beneficiary
Chad Kieswetter
Team member
