In March Richie was diagnosed with Covid-19. In less than a week he had bilateral multi-focal pneumonia. Three weeks later he was in the ICU with a left lung hemothorax. This meant that he had bleeding in the space that incases the lung. The bleeding compressed the lung making it even more difficult for him to breathe. Richie needed surgery but the hospital he was at did not have the equipment to do the procedure. While waiting for the equipment to arrive, Richie had to be emergently intubated and placed on a ventilator. He suffered his first cardiac arrest moments after being intubated. They barely completed one round of CPR before our fighter came back to us. He was sedated and paralyzed and placed on high ventilator settings which made it too dangerous to do the surgery.

The hemothorax grew. They placed multiple chest tubes before getting one that would actually drain. Seven chest tubes later and we finally had a window to possibly get the surgery. But then during a CT scan he suffered his second cardiac arrest. This time it took two rounds of CPR to get him back. He was now on max ventilator settings. His situation was more critical than before. Even though he was on even higher settings, his medical team was pushing for the surgeon to do the surgery because it was his only chance of survival. We weren't given very good odds but anyone who knows Richie knows that he goes against all odds. Three days later he miraculously was requiring lower vent settings. Within a week they were able to get him to the lowest settings possible. He was awake and following commands. After 4 weeks of being on the ventilator he was now off.

Richie was moved to a long term acute care hospital for a few days when they took scans and realized that the hemothorax had not resolved. They sent him for his eighth chest tube and when that didn't drain they sent him to their sister hospital to have the surgery that he needed a month ago. He went in on 30 liters of oxygen and came out on 4 liters. He is now on room air and only needs oxygen from time to time.

All of this takes its toll on the body. Richie is seriously deconditioned. He had to have a feeding tube placed for nourishment.  He hasn't walked since the end of March and although weak is slowly regaining his strength. He recently started eating on his own and has that old school, Richie appetite. He was  transferred to a rehabilitation facility where he will work with PT, OT, Speech, Pulmonology and a psychiatrist. Yesterday was the first time that he dressed himself since he entered the emergency room. He needed extra oxygen to do so but was more than happy to be out of that gown. We are not sure when he will be able to return to work. What we do know is that he has defied the odds and we hope that he continues to do so.

Next week will mark three months of hospital stay. The bills will come rolling in soon. Richie will need professional home assistance and home medical equipment. He will also need to work through the PTSD of all that he has been through. We keep telling him that his only job right now is to focus on healing, getting stronger and getting back to his 11 year old son who needs him. We (his friends and family) will take care of the rest.

So we're asking for donations to help Richie get back on his feet. He's been through so much and still has a long road to recovery ahead. If you can't donate then please just pray or keep him in your thoughts. Positive energy is also currency and we truly believe it is what saved his life. 

Richie -Keep healing. Keep moving forward. You got this. We got you.

#RichieStrong