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For those of you who know Mike Dusek, you know he is a positive, kind, sincere, funny, and caring human being who gives his all. For those nurses and medical professionals who may only know him from a work environment, you know he is all those things, plus being one badass nurse who you want by your side if the situation heads south.
On October 7, 2019, while working his shift in the Emergency room, Mike was taking care of a patient who coded and needed CPR. Mike performed several rounds of CPR over 40 minutes, which resulted in a bodily injury to himself; an inguinal hernia.
During surgery on October 25, 2019, the hernia was noted to be much larger than originally thought based on imaging and needed a repair with implantable mesh. This injury was initially covered by workers' compensation since it was a direct injury from the intense physical demands placed on Mike's body during the rigorous CPR he performed.
On December 5, 2019, Mike was rushed to the ER in intense pain. Diagnostic studies showed a gangrenous appendix, which was later confirmed to have been damaged during the hernia repair surgery. Mike would need another surgery to remove his now toxic appendix.
After the surgery to remove Mike's appendix, the surgeon revealed to Mike and Shelly that he incidentally nicked Mike's bowel during the procedure. and would need to perform yet another surgery to repair the bowel laceration.
On December 11, 2019, Mike underwent the surgical repair of his damaged bowel; however, an abscess had formed and yet another surgery had to be performed on December 20th to remove a large portion of Mike's severely damaged bowel.
You'd think this medical nightmare may have ended there, but no. On Christmas Eve, Mike's incision dehisced (opened up) and a fistula formed in the abdominal wall. This resulted in multiple abdominal drains being placed; a drain on his right side, a drain on his left side, and a very large drain (ostomy) over the abdominal incision.
Over the course of his hospital stay, Mike's had several abdominal abscesses, developed pneumonia, and developed a blood clot at a previous PICC line (IV) site.
After the uncontrollable pain, surgical procedures, nights in the hospital and time away from family during the holidays, Mike received word that his workers' comp insurance denied any responsibility for medical costs after the original surgery.
Mike is now facing 6 to 8 months of TPN (nutrition through an IV) and many months of rehabilitation which will require a lengthy stay in an Acute Long-Term Care facility until the fistula closes in his abdomen.
Even after those long months of intense care and rehab, Mike will face yet another complex, high-risk surgery to repair the fistula. We pray and ask for your prayers, this surgery goes better than all of the others.
On Jan 6, 2020, the Medical Director of the hospital Mike is in, (also the hospital where Mike worked) told Shelly & Mike, "I'm sorry, your lives are forever changed". Changed indeed. Mike almost lost his life and most certainly lost his livelihood while doing his job...providing care to a patient.
Mike's wife, Shelly, has been by his side day in and day out through all of these weeks of hospitalization. After all of the setbacks and disappointments, Shelly maintains her positive attitude:
"We are taking it all day by day. Cherishing every moment. Taking nothing for granted. This is our journey. This is love."
As you can imagine, the medical costs associated with Mike's immediate and long-term care are and will be, astronomical. Any financial gift you can contribute will be greatly appreciated by these two amazing people and will certainly be put to good use.
Please share this post freely, and thank you for sharing your love with Mike & Shelly Dusek.
On October 7, 2019, while working his shift in the Emergency room, Mike was taking care of a patient who coded and needed CPR. Mike performed several rounds of CPR over 40 minutes, which resulted in a bodily injury to himself; an inguinal hernia.
During surgery on October 25, 2019, the hernia was noted to be much larger than originally thought based on imaging and needed a repair with implantable mesh. This injury was initially covered by workers' compensation since it was a direct injury from the intense physical demands placed on Mike's body during the rigorous CPR he performed.
On December 5, 2019, Mike was rushed to the ER in intense pain. Diagnostic studies showed a gangrenous appendix, which was later confirmed to have been damaged during the hernia repair surgery. Mike would need another surgery to remove his now toxic appendix.
After the surgery to remove Mike's appendix, the surgeon revealed to Mike and Shelly that he incidentally nicked Mike's bowel during the procedure. and would need to perform yet another surgery to repair the bowel laceration.
On December 11, 2019, Mike underwent the surgical repair of his damaged bowel; however, an abscess had formed and yet another surgery had to be performed on December 20th to remove a large portion of Mike's severely damaged bowel.
You'd think this medical nightmare may have ended there, but no. On Christmas Eve, Mike's incision dehisced (opened up) and a fistula formed in the abdominal wall. This resulted in multiple abdominal drains being placed; a drain on his right side, a drain on his left side, and a very large drain (ostomy) over the abdominal incision.
Over the course of his hospital stay, Mike's had several abdominal abscesses, developed pneumonia, and developed a blood clot at a previous PICC line (IV) site.
After the uncontrollable pain, surgical procedures, nights in the hospital and time away from family during the holidays, Mike received word that his workers' comp insurance denied any responsibility for medical costs after the original surgery.
Mike is now facing 6 to 8 months of TPN (nutrition through an IV) and many months of rehabilitation which will require a lengthy stay in an Acute Long-Term Care facility until the fistula closes in his abdomen.
Even after those long months of intense care and rehab, Mike will face yet another complex, high-risk surgery to repair the fistula. We pray and ask for your prayers, this surgery goes better than all of the others.
On Jan 6, 2020, the Medical Director of the hospital Mike is in, (also the hospital where Mike worked) told Shelly & Mike, "I'm sorry, your lives are forever changed". Changed indeed. Mike almost lost his life and most certainly lost his livelihood while doing his job...providing care to a patient.
Mike's wife, Shelly, has been by his side day in and day out through all of these weeks of hospitalization. After all of the setbacks and disappointments, Shelly maintains her positive attitude:
"We are taking it all day by day. Cherishing every moment. Taking nothing for granted. This is our journey. This is love."
As you can imagine, the medical costs associated with Mike's immediate and long-term care are and will be, astronomical. Any financial gift you can contribute will be greatly appreciated by these two amazing people and will certainly be put to good use.
Please share this post freely, and thank you for sharing your love with Mike & Shelly Dusek.
Organizer and beneficiary
Tess Yurko
Organizer
Kalamazoo, MI
Shelly Dusek
Beneficiary