I WAS A TICKING TIME-BOMB- Michael
Spende geschützt
Michael Mercer was born with a birth defect shared by only 2% of the world's population. Left undetected would have lead to 100% imminent death sooner than later. If it were not for some health concerns (heart attack) 18 months ago he would not be here today. The hospitalization led a team of Dr.s and Faculty to find this anomily.
He has just had open heart surgery Oct 18th, 2016. Replaced the aortic valve, added tissue grafts, been in an induced coma, had fluid drained from his heart and lungs, and now must navigate through sternal precautions for next 8 weeks, and sleep apnea for life. He has been in and out of the hospital with subsequent post surgical difficulties. Unable to work for the next 6 to 12 months, we would like to raise monies to further Michael's ease and comfort all the while working towards a full recovery.
All this has caused a great deal of financial stress on him and his family. His girlfriend has been working overtime & doing her best to support the family on a very limited single income. Although she will continue to work as hard as needed, it is taking a toll on her own health as well.
This is what the money will go towards. He is in need of:
- Bills, rent, groceries
-Life long heart medications
-Rented medical supplies (walker, bathtub seat stool, recliner for sleep...etc)
-CPAP machine for sleep apnea
-Treadmill or other low impact cardiovascular aerobic machine for heart rehabilitation
- Cab fair for medical appointments (Dr.s, Life Labs, Drugstore) as he has had his drivers licence revoked for an indeterminate amount of time.
Please get involved with us and help raise this man's hope and quality of life. If you know him at all, then you know he is a man that wouldnt think twice about helping you or a stranger.
**Finally Michael is so grateful for a second chance that in talking with him he would like to donate a part (a percentage) of the donations raised to the Royal Jubilee Hospital Heart Health Program to raise awareness in the importance of heart screening for young adults (12-35yrs) with potential undiagnosed heart conditions. This could lead to a screening program named after Michael's own experience. "Mercy Hearts Health Initiative".
Thank you for taking time to read and it's our hope that you will help make a difference for Michael and perhaps even many more.
CONTINUE READING FOR Michael's FULL UNEDITED STORY......
I was born with a defective heart at birth, but never new it till recently. My whole life I have been very healthy and became a highly sought after personal trainer for an amazing company but that came to an abrupt end 18 months ago because I had a heart attack out of the blue at work. Unfortunately on my lunch which takes me out of the running for many government services. I was informed that I am of only 2% of the population that is born with this issue called a bicuspid valve in my aorta (the largest valve in the heart responsible for delivering oxygenated blood to the entire body). Most of you are born with a perfect "tri"cuspid valve. I was told after my original release of 8 days in the hospital that I would stabilize and possibly get several more years of normal living out of this unfortunate prognosis. The Dr. called me a medical mystery as there was no other issues at that time. Then 7 weeks ago I was walking around Westood (a man made lake) with some friends and immediately felt much the same sensations as 18 months before and knew something was off, but continued the walk anyway. It got progressively worse and I knew I better check myself into Emergency at NRGH. Within a few short days I was back down to Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, a leading specialty facility for heart health. The Surgeon responsible for me said that my time was up and the heart needed to be fixed immediately!! Within days I scheduled for for open heart surgery, but there were pre existing complications as I had gotten a tooth infection and had to take antibiotics and have emergency dental surgery. 10 days later I was on the table and being put under.... The surgery was to be 4 hrs give or take, but again there was major complications and they found that not only was I needing valve replacement but the stenosis (or excessive tightening of the valve) had left the decending part of my aorta so compromised that it was litteraly falling apart. So add on another 3.5 hrs of surgery, as the fix was to add bovine (cattle) tissue to the heart to "beef up the aorta walls And add thichness. (Now we all know they used a badass Mediterranean *Spanish alpha male bull's tissue and not some Cowichan Vally Jersey Cow crap...Right!?! LoL). I was then intubated or coma induced for 17 hrs and only woke up when they tried to give me an aspirin suppository (that's in my bum!&@#$). I was in ICU for a night then off to the heart ward. 5 days later I was sent home to heal. 2 days later I blacked out and then all hell broke loose and for the past 3 out of 4 weeks since the surgery I have been in and out of emergency as well as ambulanced off to Victoria again. I couldn't breath and the pain was so excruciating. This was found to be a result of over 1000ml or CC's of fluid collecting in the lungs and paricardial sack which is the casing around the heart. How they got to it was a little bit like a horror scene as they used a needle that was littleraly from my wrist to my elbow and repeatedly stuck it into my chest looking to bleed out the pressure produced from the accumulation of fluid. Think of it like having a blood pressure cuff around your arm at the height of inflation and then try and make a bicep flex... seriously difficult to breath!! Unfortunately at the beginning they only hit the lung by accident which had 480mls of fluid but a day later they decided to do it again and got the heart with over 550mls of fluid. I immediately felt relief but again I am of the 1% that this happens to. Basically if you are young and strong open heart surgery hurts more!! But most people my age don't live past the heart attack part, so I am truly blessed.
Unfortunately bcuz of my profession and the extent of my complications such as losing 30lbs weight already, as well the sternum being literally sawed in half, plus the new tissue needing at the very least 12 weeks to heal... I am out of service for the next 6-12 months.
So now I hope that I can humbly ask for your help and assistance in getting back to health and pay some of the medical and everyday expenses that have and will continue to occur. I have never been one to ask for help but I see that this is bigger than me, and I know because of my amazing family and wonderful assortment of friends, and good peoples' want for a positive outcome in the lives of others they may not even know but can effect in their own personal way, that I don't have to do this alone. So I truly thank you for your generosity and appreciated concerns AND for for your help "SHARING" this message so that my story can be heard. I honestly believe that this was an opportunity given to me, and I will promise to pay it forward every day one way or another.
Thank you and God Bless!!
Michael Mercer
He has just had open heart surgery Oct 18th, 2016. Replaced the aortic valve, added tissue grafts, been in an induced coma, had fluid drained from his heart and lungs, and now must navigate through sternal precautions for next 8 weeks, and sleep apnea for life. He has been in and out of the hospital with subsequent post surgical difficulties. Unable to work for the next 6 to 12 months, we would like to raise monies to further Michael's ease and comfort all the while working towards a full recovery.
All this has caused a great deal of financial stress on him and his family. His girlfriend has been working overtime & doing her best to support the family on a very limited single income. Although she will continue to work as hard as needed, it is taking a toll on her own health as well.
This is what the money will go towards. He is in need of:
- Bills, rent, groceries
-Life long heart medications
-Rented medical supplies (walker, bathtub seat stool, recliner for sleep...etc)
-CPAP machine for sleep apnea
-Treadmill or other low impact cardiovascular aerobic machine for heart rehabilitation
- Cab fair for medical appointments (Dr.s, Life Labs, Drugstore) as he has had his drivers licence revoked for an indeterminate amount of time.
Please get involved with us and help raise this man's hope and quality of life. If you know him at all, then you know he is a man that wouldnt think twice about helping you or a stranger.
**Finally Michael is so grateful for a second chance that in talking with him he would like to donate a part (a percentage) of the donations raised to the Royal Jubilee Hospital Heart Health Program to raise awareness in the importance of heart screening for young adults (12-35yrs) with potential undiagnosed heart conditions. This could lead to a screening program named after Michael's own experience. "Mercy Hearts Health Initiative".
Thank you for taking time to read and it's our hope that you will help make a difference for Michael and perhaps even many more.
CONTINUE READING FOR Michael's FULL UNEDITED STORY......
I was born with a defective heart at birth, but never new it till recently. My whole life I have been very healthy and became a highly sought after personal trainer for an amazing company but that came to an abrupt end 18 months ago because I had a heart attack out of the blue at work. Unfortunately on my lunch which takes me out of the running for many government services. I was informed that I am of only 2% of the population that is born with this issue called a bicuspid valve in my aorta (the largest valve in the heart responsible for delivering oxygenated blood to the entire body). Most of you are born with a perfect "tri"cuspid valve. I was told after my original release of 8 days in the hospital that I would stabilize and possibly get several more years of normal living out of this unfortunate prognosis. The Dr. called me a medical mystery as there was no other issues at that time. Then 7 weeks ago I was walking around Westood (a man made lake) with some friends and immediately felt much the same sensations as 18 months before and knew something was off, but continued the walk anyway. It got progressively worse and I knew I better check myself into Emergency at NRGH. Within a few short days I was back down to Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, a leading specialty facility for heart health. The Surgeon responsible for me said that my time was up and the heart needed to be fixed immediately!! Within days I scheduled for for open heart surgery, but there were pre existing complications as I had gotten a tooth infection and had to take antibiotics and have emergency dental surgery. 10 days later I was on the table and being put under.... The surgery was to be 4 hrs give or take, but again there was major complications and they found that not only was I needing valve replacement but the stenosis (or excessive tightening of the valve) had left the decending part of my aorta so compromised that it was litteraly falling apart. So add on another 3.5 hrs of surgery, as the fix was to add bovine (cattle) tissue to the heart to "beef up the aorta walls And add thichness. (Now we all know they used a badass Mediterranean *Spanish alpha male bull's tissue and not some Cowichan Vally Jersey Cow crap...Right!?! LoL). I was then intubated or coma induced for 17 hrs and only woke up when they tried to give me an aspirin suppository (that's in my bum!&@#$). I was in ICU for a night then off to the heart ward. 5 days later I was sent home to heal. 2 days later I blacked out and then all hell broke loose and for the past 3 out of 4 weeks since the surgery I have been in and out of emergency as well as ambulanced off to Victoria again. I couldn't breath and the pain was so excruciating. This was found to be a result of over 1000ml or CC's of fluid collecting in the lungs and paricardial sack which is the casing around the heart. How they got to it was a little bit like a horror scene as they used a needle that was littleraly from my wrist to my elbow and repeatedly stuck it into my chest looking to bleed out the pressure produced from the accumulation of fluid. Think of it like having a blood pressure cuff around your arm at the height of inflation and then try and make a bicep flex... seriously difficult to breath!! Unfortunately at the beginning they only hit the lung by accident which had 480mls of fluid but a day later they decided to do it again and got the heart with over 550mls of fluid. I immediately felt relief but again I am of the 1% that this happens to. Basically if you are young and strong open heart surgery hurts more!! But most people my age don't live past the heart attack part, so I am truly blessed.
Unfortunately bcuz of my profession and the extent of my complications such as losing 30lbs weight already, as well the sternum being literally sawed in half, plus the new tissue needing at the very least 12 weeks to heal... I am out of service for the next 6-12 months.
So now I hope that I can humbly ask for your help and assistance in getting back to health and pay some of the medical and everyday expenses that have and will continue to occur. I have never been one to ask for help but I see that this is bigger than me, and I know because of my amazing family and wonderful assortment of friends, and good peoples' want for a positive outcome in the lives of others they may not even know but can effect in their own personal way, that I don't have to do this alone. So I truly thank you for your generosity and appreciated concerns AND for for your help "SHARING" this message so that my story can be heard. I honestly believe that this was an opportunity given to me, and I will promise to pay it forward every day one way or another.
Thank you and God Bless!!
Michael Mercer
Organisator
Shirley Mitrou
Organisator
Nanaimo, BC