On March 1, 2015 our entire world got turned upside down when I had to rush Nathan to the emergency room because he couldn't catch his breath. His face was turning red, and he was having chest pains. And Xander was in the backseat of the car trying to be brave and praying that his dad would be okay.
We found out that Nathan had a spontaneous lung collapse and that he needed to be transferred to another hospital for surgery. We waited for several days to be transferred and several more for his surgery (Robotic Blebectomy) that we thought would repair his lung.
But after the surgery, Nathan had air leaking from his lung that was preventing him from healing properly. The doctor said we'd have to do another surgery to remove the top 3rd of his right lung. So we waited several more days for his second surgery (Upper Right Lobectemy) which we hoped would repair his lung.
It took about another week in the recovery wing after staying in the ICU overnight, but the air leak finally stopped and they let us go home.
We thought that he'd be mostly better after a couple of weeks at home recovering, but later found out that it is normal for it to take 10-12 weeks to fully recover from 2 surgeries of this magnitude.
The doctor believes that Nathan has a rare dissorder called Marfan's syndrome which can effect the lungs, the heart, and the eyes. So, now we will have to monitor all of these things at least every 6 months.
Then to top it all off, I got in a car accident 2 days after Nathan returned home from the hospital, followed by shingles on my lower abdomen most likely brought on by stress. This has made it difficult to do many of the things that needed to be done at home. And this past week, Nathan got into a car accident as well.
We are overwhelmed by all of this and are trusting God to provide for what we need as we try to figure all of this out and recover from this past month that has left us devastated. And now the medical bills are pouring in, and we don't know how we will cover our monthly regular expenses much less pay this massive debt.
Please if it is within your ability, we humbly ask for your help with paying some of Nathan's medical bills. And please keep our family in your prayers through this difficult time. God Bless ya'll! and thank you so much for your help, thoughts, and prayers.
-Rachel Kirkland
We found out that Nathan had a spontaneous lung collapse and that he needed to be transferred to another hospital for surgery. We waited for several days to be transferred and several more for his surgery (Robotic Blebectomy) that we thought would repair his lung.
But after the surgery, Nathan had air leaking from his lung that was preventing him from healing properly. The doctor said we'd have to do another surgery to remove the top 3rd of his right lung. So we waited several more days for his second surgery (Upper Right Lobectemy) which we hoped would repair his lung.
It took about another week in the recovery wing after staying in the ICU overnight, but the air leak finally stopped and they let us go home.
We thought that he'd be mostly better after a couple of weeks at home recovering, but later found out that it is normal for it to take 10-12 weeks to fully recover from 2 surgeries of this magnitude.
The doctor believes that Nathan has a rare dissorder called Marfan's syndrome which can effect the lungs, the heart, and the eyes. So, now we will have to monitor all of these things at least every 6 months.
Then to top it all off, I got in a car accident 2 days after Nathan returned home from the hospital, followed by shingles on my lower abdomen most likely brought on by stress. This has made it difficult to do many of the things that needed to be done at home. And this past week, Nathan got into a car accident as well.
We are overwhelmed by all of this and are trusting God to provide for what we need as we try to figure all of this out and recover from this past month that has left us devastated. And now the medical bills are pouring in, and we don't know how we will cover our monthly regular expenses much less pay this massive debt.
Please if it is within your ability, we humbly ask for your help with paying some of Nathan's medical bills. And please keep our family in your prayers through this difficult time. God Bless ya'll! and thank you so much for your help, thoughts, and prayers.
-Rachel Kirkland