Michael Gilkey Angel MedFlight to Tampa
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- Hello, my name is Joanne Gilkey and I am fundraising to prayerfully obtain financial assistance in hiring an air ambulance to get my husband Michael to Tampa General Hospital. This trip is via Angel MedFlight and is for assessment of a liver transplant. The cost is very prohibitive due to the cross country distance and family members are definitely stretching their giving as much as they can. Many friends have reached out wanting to know how they can help. This is your opportunity. We will be grateful for any financial contribution! We arrived in the Portland area on September 22 to visit family. On September 27 we went to the ER at Legacy Salmon Creek to do what for us is a routine thoracentisis which is a draining of the area outside the lung membrane. With liver disease you have frequent ascites formation in the abdomen, lung area or both. We were very surprised when we were told Michael’s kidney function was way off. He is now on dialysis 3 times weekly. We had been hospitalized briefly in Michigan due to a bleed which has caused no further problem. We felt confident the continued trip to Portland would pose no reason for concern. We were wrong! We were admitted to the hospital and by the following Monday were told Michael needed to be transferred to ICU for multiple organ failure. Heart, liver and kidney. We were also told we needed to start looking at “end of life” issues as most patients this sick do not survive. We notified our family and both sons were at bedside the next day. Michael stabilized in the next few days and a search for a liver transplant center to accept him began. We were turned down by the local OHSU and also UW in Seattle due to past cardiac history. Mayo Clinic in Phoenix accepted him and a few days later rescinded their acceptance. We were devastated! Our doctor reached out to The Liver Transplant Department at Tampa General who had been following us for the last two years. We were told once Michael is on the transplant list we would not be able to travel. This was our chance. Michael had all his appointments scheduled the day after we were to return to Tampa to begin the process of assessment for TGH liver transplant program. Tampa General had previously refused a hospital to hospital transfer due to the distance. Now they wanted Michael there. They said they had all the copies of tests done for the other institutions and did not see a reason that Michael would not be a candidate for their transplant program which may include a kidney transplant. All transplant programs have different criteria. Our ICU doctor told us if he is not medically transferred he would be in ICU indefinitely due to low blood pressure and again to start thinking about “end of life” issues. You who know Michael know he has way too much love of life to be considering end of life issues. Michael loves his family and friends with all his heart. You who attended the Adelphian Academy 50th reunion have been the most recent recipient of that love. You are the reason Michael wants to live…to go through whatever he needs to do to get well! Again, you are the reason!!! Please help us get Michael to Tampa General Hospital. Give Michael hope for many tomorrow’s! Every dollar will help. If financial contribution is not within your means just know your prayers are so important and appreciated! We definitely “Need the Prayers of Those We Love”….one of my favorite hymns. Your love and support is what keeps us going. Your offers of air travel miles, transportation, home away from home, vehicle usage, and more have been overwhelming. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We love you all!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Organizer
Joanne Gilkey
Organizer
Clearwater, FL