Supporting Michael's Heart Surgery
Donation protected
Last year I had the pleasure to watch my daughter, Allyssa Beird, compete on the NBC show "American Ninja Warrior". Allyssa, a 5th grade school teacher from MA, was one of the Four Philly Females who made it to City Finals and then to Mt Midoriyama in Las Vegas! (Watch Allyssa Compete in Philadelphia!) She's competing again this year in Cleveland with hopes that I can watch her return to Las Vegas a 2nd time!
As her father, I'm trying to make it to Vegas this summer, too, but unlike Allyssa, my obstacles don't have a Warped Wall or Salmon Ladder.
When I was 8, my father died instantly, at age 45, of a massive heart attack due to atherosclerosis (or "hardening of the arteries"). My brothers and I were raised by our mother left widowed and alone to face an uncertain future.
I always knew that genetics work against children with that type of family history, so I tried to fight it. When I turned 50, I successfully completed my first marathon in Baltimore and my second marathon a year later in Chicago. I was considering a third in 2014 thinking I could avoid my dad's fate by these efforts.
But no such luck...
Now my father's legacy has finally come back full circle. when chest pains slowed me down in 2015, curtailing my efforts.
Last year I was diagnosed with 6 arterial blockages that doctors knew would eventually require triple bypass surgery. This year, my physical condition worsened to the point where just walking a mile or two felt like a 26 mile marathon. Earlier this month, doctors told me it would be time for a triple bypass or I might not make it through the Summer.
So I was faced with a healthcare decision that confronts so many Americans today ...
Ignore my worsening condition and risk an almost certain heart attack in the coming months....
or
Have surgery and watch my kids achieve their goals the way my father never could, but try to deal with an already increasing pile of medical bills.
I decided to undergo open heart surgery on May 19 to replace the 3 main arteries affected.
Unfortunately, as a small business owner, my tiny company lacks access to the type of comprehensive healthcare coverage that many large corporations provide so the only insurance we could afford has deductibles that are large with limited coverage.
I couldn't bear the thought of leaving Meridith and Allyssa fatherless just when they are embarking on their hopes and dreams. Sadly, choosing the open heart surgery I need this month also meant going down a path of debt and bills that have no end in sight.
I wanted everyone to know that any donations will go towards:
- Cardiology, ICU, Anaesthesiologist and other hospital
bills from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
- Post-surgical physical therapy
- Medications
- Post-operative doctor visits
- Basic living expenses during the recovery period
If you can donate anything at all, it will mean everything to us and possibly allow me to conquer my own Mt Midoriyama! And God willing, I WILL make it through my THIRD marathon when I'm healthier and stronger!
Even if you cannot donate, I totally understand but please consider posting or sharing this others. It would mean a lot and I thank you so much for taking time to read this.
As her father, I'm trying to make it to Vegas this summer, too, but unlike Allyssa, my obstacles don't have a Warped Wall or Salmon Ladder.
When I was 8, my father died instantly, at age 45, of a massive heart attack due to atherosclerosis (or "hardening of the arteries"). My brothers and I were raised by our mother left widowed and alone to face an uncertain future.
I always knew that genetics work against children with that type of family history, so I tried to fight it. When I turned 50, I successfully completed my first marathon in Baltimore and my second marathon a year later in Chicago. I was considering a third in 2014 thinking I could avoid my dad's fate by these efforts.
But no such luck...
Now my father's legacy has finally come back full circle. when chest pains slowed me down in 2015, curtailing my efforts.
Last year I was diagnosed with 6 arterial blockages that doctors knew would eventually require triple bypass surgery. This year, my physical condition worsened to the point where just walking a mile or two felt like a 26 mile marathon. Earlier this month, doctors told me it would be time for a triple bypass or I might not make it through the Summer.
So I was faced with a healthcare decision that confronts so many Americans today ...
Ignore my worsening condition and risk an almost certain heart attack in the coming months....
or
Have surgery and watch my kids achieve their goals the way my father never could, but try to deal with an already increasing pile of medical bills.
I decided to undergo open heart surgery on May 19 to replace the 3 main arteries affected.
Unfortunately, as a small business owner, my tiny company lacks access to the type of comprehensive healthcare coverage that many large corporations provide so the only insurance we could afford has deductibles that are large with limited coverage.
I couldn't bear the thought of leaving Meridith and Allyssa fatherless just when they are embarking on their hopes and dreams. Sadly, choosing the open heart surgery I need this month also meant going down a path of debt and bills that have no end in sight.
I wanted everyone to know that any donations will go towards:
- Cardiology, ICU, Anaesthesiologist and other hospital
bills from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
- Post-surgical physical therapy
- Medications
- Post-operative doctor visits
- Basic living expenses during the recovery period
If you can donate anything at all, it will mean everything to us and possibly allow me to conquer my own Mt Midoriyama! And God willing, I WILL make it through my THIRD marathon when I'm healthier and stronger!
Even if you cannot donate, I totally understand but please consider posting or sharing this others. It would mean a lot and I thank you so much for taking time to read this.
Organizer
Michael Beird
Organizer
Hancock, NH