Medical Expenses for The Carcell Family

Hi, my name is Rachel Carcell, the Daughter of Karen and Tony Carcell. Recently my Mom Karen has had some severe medical issues develop. Mom is the hardest working mother I have ever met. She is the primary income source for her and my dad. She has been unable to work since this all started and will not be able to return to work for quite a bit of time due to the extent of care that will be needed. I’m not one to ask, but I think that, at this time, it may be fitting for my parents. I will do anything and everything in my power to help my parents. My mother has taught me everything that I need to know growing up! She has taught me that you must work for what you need and want. Nothing is ever handed to you. I can’t just watch my parents struggle during this challenging time, though. Finances are the last thing my mom needs to worry about right now, and the same is true for my dad. I will do my best for them not to worry about the medical bills that will come from this, the gas getting back and forth to the hospital, food, household necessities, and house bills.

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Thank you all who have been keeping Mom in your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate every single one of you for the support. It has been a rough few days leading up to now, and there is still a long road ahead of us, but here is an update on Mom.

Back story to now. A month ago, Mom passed out and stopped breathing in the car with Dad on their way home from West Virginia. Dad called 911, and they instructed him that he was only 5 minutes away from the nearest ER, and he drove her there. At that time, she did become responsive again. They worked her up at the hospital, and she stayed there for a couple of days before being released to come back home and follow up with her cardiologists here. It was decided that mom would need her aortic valve replaced, and we have been waiting for an update on when they would do this, but we have not had an update since. It has been very taxing and exhausting for Mom to walk ten steps from her bedroom to the dining room, from the house to the car outside, leading Mom and Dad to not get to the store and shop for household items they need within that month. Dad has been staying by her side the whole time.

On Monday morning, Mom and Dad planned to get breakfast together and get some necessities for the house. As Dad was helping Mom out to the car, she became very short of breath. Dad got her to the car and sat in the passenger seat, where she then became unresponsive. Her heart rate dropped, and she quit breathing again. Dad called me in a panic, and 911 was also called. Within the time the squad got to the house, Mom had begun to breathe again, and a faint pulse was back; she was very pale, weak, and lethargic, but she was back with us! Mom was transported to the ER, where tests were run to come up with a game plan. While waiting for test results, mom became very short of breath and then became unresponsive; her heart rate dropped to the 30s, respirations became low, and eventually, her heart paused and stopped breathing again. The ER staff responded very quickly to this. It took a few for Mom to come back around, but she did! More tests were run while we waited for a helicopter to arrive and pick Mom up and transport her to Cleveland University Hospital Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

Mom was flown to Cleveland, where she has been with the best cardiac team working on her case. A few events have happened here, but nothing like before. Multiple tests have been done, she has been getting the best care, and this is where she needs to be. The cardiac surgical team has been coming up with the best care plan based on all the tests that have been done. Today, mom will be going through a heart catheterization to see if any blockages are present and deal with them if any are present. The team has been debating on what will come first open heart to replace her Aortic Valve or a pacemaker. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Tentatively, Mom is scheduled to have open heart surgery on Friday. Mom is now comfortable and in great spirits. Dad and I have been traveling back and forth every day to be with Mom. The care that she has received so far has been the best.