Matt Peno: His Big Heart

This is a request for fervent prayers and financial support.

Matthew Peno, our fellow church member, our helpful energetic trustee and friend, who always has time for others is a 50-year-old man who has always taken good care of himself. Suddenly he finds himself short of breath and unable to function. WHY? A heart problem? Impossible!

After much testing and observation at Hartford Hospital a diagnosis. Heart Failure. That’s impossible. NO!! His heart is functioning at only 15% capacity. It’s a fact! Even heart surgeons at HH can’t anticipate the path this diagnosis will take, what the future will hold.

Please pray for the best possible outcome for Matt!

With a VERY large insurance deductible and the expenses of ongoing heart medications (some of which are not covered at all) and treatments to save his life, our good friend will need help even if he is able to return to his work as a pediatric occupational therapist, which is his goal. He is notorious for working too much, never just enough. He looks wonderful and strong. This unexpected heart problem, hidden from our eyes and his, has done nothing to warp his beautiful smile or silly sense of humor. His demeanor belies that his heart is functioning at 15% capacity, but it is. Will his heart muscle recover? No. Will he be able to continue living? Yes. But it takes rest, a full medication regimen and cardiac rehab. Without these his prognosis is bleak.

His medical team are eventually anticipating a restricted employment with additional time off by his employer. However, the cost of medications alone are beyond reasonable and are often more expensive than the common person can afford from their normal income. Too many of the required procedures are not covered completely.

Though it is almost impossible for Matt to ask for help from anyone, he has agreed to ask his church family and friends to help him deal with this unexpected, shocking, open-ended circumstance. It is possible that before Matt is once again back on his feet $25,000.00 may be needed to help him recover. Any donation will be gratefully received.

Prayers are the backbone of our Christian life. Please pray for Matthew. Should you feel that you can help financially, please donate. We ask God to bless you and he will ask God to bless you for caring. With heartfelt gratitude and God’s blessings upon you.

With God's Love,

Fran Phinney