Mark Guyer Hospital and Skilled Nursing Fund

Mark became ill the first week in March, initially experiencing respiratory infection symptoms.  He began seeking medical attention by the end of the week and was sent home after the ER refused to administer a Covid-19 test.  He apparently did not meet the current, state sanctioned criteria for testing.  On March 22nd Mark went back to ER and was immediately placed on a ventilator due to symptoms of acute respiratory distress (ARDS).  The test administered at that time came back positive for Covid-19.  We have been on the phone relentlessly for the four weeks since then, taking calls from the social worker, chaplain and mediating doctor.  It has been a battle of endurance, with medical professionals communicating his poor prognosis, trying to prepare us for the worst yet most medically probable scenario:  that Mark is not likely to recover, that it might be more merciful to take him off of the ventilator.  I prayed vehemently and told the Lord I could not, would not, feel good about doing that.  We had a family conference and all agreed we would pull the vent if his condition continued to steadily decline.  At that point he had been determined, "unresponsive" by his ICU doctors.  That very day, the doctor who usually called with the bad news called with the good news that Mark opened his eyes!  Miraculous news after over a week in a coma, and previous weeks of sedation and chemical paralysis.  Now each report has seemingly more positive and less ominous news.  Mark is able to sit propped up, trying to open his eyes and track, move his arms, legs, toes, squeeze the nurse's hand, and respond to verbal instructions.  As he slowly continues to recover, it is likely he will need to be temporarily transferred to a skilled nursing facility before he is able to be cared for by family.  Placement in the kind of skilled and specialized facility that he needs will cost at minimum, $6,000 - $8,000 a month.  Mark only has medicare part A, as he mistakenly let his part B lapse and isn't eligible for renewal until July, 2021!  This is such a typical mistake for him, as he is always helping out others and often forgets to help himself.  He truly has a heart of gold, a deeply loving heart, that comes from his place in God's hands.  He doesn't have any supplementary insurance, meaning his hospital stay is covered for 60 days, and after that nothing is covered.  The doctors and meds, tests, procedures, and dialysis is not covered.  We were told about Go Fund Me, so we are giving it a go.   Anything offered to support him in this difficult time will help.  And thank you for sharing on your Face Book page.  May God richly bless all of you and keep you safe!