Mike Carper’s Road to Recovery

I have never done this before and never thought I would feel the need. But it’s time! As most of you know, my Grandpa, Mike Carper, has been in the hospital for a couple of weeks now. It’s been a very hard and scary 6 months for him. A few months ago they found what they thought was a massive tumor in the left lung. They did a bronchoscope and found it was a mass of thick mucous, and he had covid pneumonia. They were able to clear the mucous, but his lungs were in very bad shape.

Shortly after, he started having bad pain in his neck. He’s had 6 former neck and/or back surgeries, so they did an MRI that revealed a disc crushing the spinal cord, with risk of severing it. They performed an urgent surgery. There was so much previous scar tissue that they had to go in from the back and move muscles out of the way. It was very painful and has been an extremely rough recovery.

After his neck surgery he then started getting SEVERE migraines. He’s never been prone to headaches, but we all, including his surgeon presumed it was from the moved muscles and neck healing. Only to later find out it was all due to lack of oxygen...

Two weeks ago, on April 17th he woke up suddenly unable to breath. He could exhale but not inhale. My Uncle Shane and my Grandma Dawn rushed him to Parkview as fast as possible. Luckily they got there just in time. When ER doctor realized his oxygen was 63 and he was in respiratory shock, they immediately took him back and they described it as a movie scene how quickly everything happened. They had to make the quick decision to insert a chest tube into his right lung. He suffered from a pneumothorax, otherwise known as a collapsed lung. The doctor said had he made it even 10-20 minutes later, he would not be here today. It is a miracle he is still alive.

The tube they inserted hooks to a machine that removes air from the cavity as he exhales. The goal was to give him a few days on this machine where the lung would not collapse, and allow this hole to heal. Unfortunately we’ve had further collapses to the lung and they made the decision to go in and insert a valve in the lung. Sadly after the doctor attempted to insert the valve, they delivered the bad news that the surgery was unsuccessful.

They could not locate the hole, even with multiple methods like ballooning, dye and scope. This lung is now filling with that same mucous. They will attempt AGAIN tomorrow (5/1) to insert the valve and if the procedure is unsuccessful, they will then discuss removing part of his lung.

My grandpa has a very long road ahead of him. He will probably be in the hospital for quite some time and once he is out will have a very long road ahead. His medications alone are extremely expensive even with insurance. Just the special inhaler he needs is more than $500 because insurance won’t cover it. His home hospital bed no longer keeps him upright when he sleeps. He desperately needs a new one. Medical bills are piling up very quickly. My Grandma Dawn is a trooper. She has been by his side through all of this. My grandma has had to miss a lot of work and PTO only lasts so long. Her car has expensive repairs needed. I feel so bad for them wanted to help lesson the load by trying to help with finances.

To those of you who know my Grandpa, know that he has always been the one helping others. He will drive across the country to lend a helping hand even if he is suffering with his own health issues. He will give the shirt off his own back if someone who needs it. He will always be the first to jump when someone needs him and always with a smile on his face. He has a heart of gold and never asks for help! This time, he truthfully needs help. The smallest amount of donation would be genuinely appreciated to help them get through this very emotional rollercoaster and unknown circumstances. We just want grandpa back home