Making Lemonade Together

Dominic Friesen organise cette cagnotte.

Don protégé

Arriving at the UCLA Olive View ER, I had a 110 temperature; had already lost 1/2 of my blood; and was unable to walk due to a spinal infection. I spent two days in their ER during which a team of 15 top doctors was assembled & put me thru around-the-clock tests, including: MRI, multiple CAT scans, ECHO, Ultrasounds, EKG, etc.

In short, a common infectious bacteria has taken-up residency in my heart, spreading rapidly into my lungs and lodged in my spine, while also entering my bloodstream.

Currently, I am awaiting an available bed and transport to USC where their leading cardiologists will perform a catheter intervention -- insert a catheter into my heart to suction the bacterial mass out.

Its a race against the clock for my medical team, the Fighting Fifteen. Despite this sounding like an episode of "Grey's Anatomy," this is my current reality.

Doctors anticipate a minimum of 6 weeks of hospitalization for an aggressive antibiotic treatment for the infection.

Needless to say, I was not prepared for life to deliver a bushel of lemons -- and the lemon is in abundance as medical bills, living expenses and other obligations can no longer be ignored.

Time to make some lemonade -- thank you for joining and supporting me. A difficult time, but I'm a survivor.