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The family of Michael Benner has put together this GoFundMe page to allow him to tell his story and share the challenges that he is currently dealing with. He is been through so much in the past few months, and he is steadily healing and hopes to get back to what he loves most – teaching his music students. We know that he has a lot of friends and loved ones who have supported him, wishing there was something more they could do to help. If the spirit moves you, we hope that you will consider donating to help Mike in his quest to get back in front of the piano where he belongs!
"To look at me you'd have thought I was in fairly good health. I looked pretty good from the outside.”
“But even after open heart surgery 13 years ago, a steady deterioration of my heart muscle left it pumping at less than 30% capacity. I was diagnosed with critical and unrepairable heart failure. While moving into a new apartment I collapsed and was rushed to a nearby hospital.”
“The prognosis at that hospital was crushing. They told me the end had come and to go to a hospice to wait for death to come.”
“But then a second hospital across town determined that I might just possibly be a candidate for a heart transplant. Unfortunately, further testing showed that many artery blockages were present, so I was disqualified as a heart transplant candidate.”
“But once again, these wonderfully creative folks at Banner University Hospital in Phoenix studied the situation and determined that it might somehow be possible to install a newly developed mechanical heart called a Left Ventricle Assist Device.
And so they did it! This electrically driven, battery powered rotary pump is now inside my chest running at 5,000 rpm!”
“It is working!”
“I may be the only living person you know who has no pulse. Indeed, no pulse - just a whirring sound in the key of F major.”
“But there are very big financial consequences. I spent 45 days hospitalized in ICU and then could only return home if 24/7 medical care was in place. The cost of this kind of ongoing care is very high, for September the cost of care was more than $9,000. Plus the medication, medical supplies, nurses and nurse practitioner costs are mounting. Medicare does not cover it all and I've had to use a big chunk of my retirement funds to pay these bills. A few more months my own funds will be exhausted and I'll be unable to meet these financial obligations.”
“I want to thank everyone for their warm support, cards, and visits. Even if you are not able to donate, I very, very much appreciate your kindness and your support!"
"To look at me you'd have thought I was in fairly good health. I looked pretty good from the outside.”
“But even after open heart surgery 13 years ago, a steady deterioration of my heart muscle left it pumping at less than 30% capacity. I was diagnosed with critical and unrepairable heart failure. While moving into a new apartment I collapsed and was rushed to a nearby hospital.”
“The prognosis at that hospital was crushing. They told me the end had come and to go to a hospice to wait for death to come.”
“But then a second hospital across town determined that I might just possibly be a candidate for a heart transplant. Unfortunately, further testing showed that many artery blockages were present, so I was disqualified as a heart transplant candidate.”
“But once again, these wonderfully creative folks at Banner University Hospital in Phoenix studied the situation and determined that it might somehow be possible to install a newly developed mechanical heart called a Left Ventricle Assist Device.
And so they did it! This electrically driven, battery powered rotary pump is now inside my chest running at 5,000 rpm!”
“It is working!”
“I may be the only living person you know who has no pulse. Indeed, no pulse - just a whirring sound in the key of F major.”
“But there are very big financial consequences. I spent 45 days hospitalized in ICU and then could only return home if 24/7 medical care was in place. The cost of this kind of ongoing care is very high, for September the cost of care was more than $9,000. Plus the medication, medical supplies, nurses and nurse practitioner costs are mounting. Medicare does not cover it all and I've had to use a big chunk of my retirement funds to pay these bills. A few more months my own funds will be exhausted and I'll be unable to meet these financial obligations.”
“I want to thank everyone for their warm support, cards, and visits. Even if you are not able to donate, I very, very much appreciate your kindness and your support!"