Randy's Transplant Fund
Donation protected
Friends and Family of Randy and Susan Wright
Randy's medical journey started in the late 1990's when he had to take medical disability, due to a heart attack. During his journey he had a defibrillator implanted, then changed to a pacemaker/defibrillator combo. In August 2011, doctors advised them that the next step would be an LVAD (left ventricular assist device) which is an external pump "for patients who have reached end-stage heart failure". Since that surgery Randy has been on the National Donor Registry.
On February 5, Randy was notified that a donor heart was available and they were on the road to Minneapolis where surgery was performed on February 6. Randy was under heavy sedation for 5 days. During that time he had 2 additional surgeries, one to open his chest back up to give space, due to swelling of tissue that put pressure on the heart, and two days later they closed his chest. He has been struggling since then to regain his mobility.
Randy is now at Courage Kenny Rehab facility at Abbott Northwestern Hospital for continued physical therapy. While they have insurance to cover the majority of surgery costs, there have been many 500+ mile, overnight, trips to Minneapolis from their Iowa home for checkups and tests to maintain his eligibility for a heart transplant over the past 4-1/2 years.
While Randy's wife Susan has returned to work, she continues to make weekend trips to Minneapolis. There will be many more two day trips to Minneapolis in their future and unknown costs above insurance for the transplant surgery and anti-rejection drugs.
Our prayers go out to ALL organ donors and their families for the gift of continued life to those in need. If you are not an organ donor, please reconsider sharing the gift of life for others like Randy.
Thank you in advance for any help you can give. Sheryl Ledlie (Susan Wright's sister) and Birgit Van Roekel (Good friend).
Randy's medical journey started in the late 1990's when he had to take medical disability, due to a heart attack. During his journey he had a defibrillator implanted, then changed to a pacemaker/defibrillator combo. In August 2011, doctors advised them that the next step would be an LVAD (left ventricular assist device) which is an external pump "for patients who have reached end-stage heart failure". Since that surgery Randy has been on the National Donor Registry.
On February 5, Randy was notified that a donor heart was available and they were on the road to Minneapolis where surgery was performed on February 6. Randy was under heavy sedation for 5 days. During that time he had 2 additional surgeries, one to open his chest back up to give space, due to swelling of tissue that put pressure on the heart, and two days later they closed his chest. He has been struggling since then to regain his mobility.
Randy is now at Courage Kenny Rehab facility at Abbott Northwestern Hospital for continued physical therapy. While they have insurance to cover the majority of surgery costs, there have been many 500+ mile, overnight, trips to Minneapolis from their Iowa home for checkups and tests to maintain his eligibility for a heart transplant over the past 4-1/2 years.
While Randy's wife Susan has returned to work, she continues to make weekend trips to Minneapolis. There will be many more two day trips to Minneapolis in their future and unknown costs above insurance for the transplant surgery and anti-rejection drugs.
Our prayers go out to ALL organ donors and their families for the gift of continued life to those in need. If you are not an organ donor, please reconsider sharing the gift of life for others like Randy.
Thank you in advance for any help you can give. Sheryl Ledlie (Susan Wright's sister) and Birgit Van Roekel (Good friend).
Organizer and beneficiary
Birgit Crouse Van Roekel
Organizer
Des Moines, IA
Randy Wright
Beneficiary