Relief for the Powell Family

Please take a moment to read about my dear friends Angie and Joe Powell.

3 years ago Joe was diagnosed with Heart Failure. The actual diagnosis is Restrictive Cardiomyapothy. With this condition, the heart continues to harden which restricts the blood flow. There is no cure. They started his journey with the Vanderbilt University Heart Failure team in Nashville TN, back in 2021. After being monitored for approximately a year they determined that he wasn’t ready for heart transplant at that time. They knew the day would come, but just didn't know when.

Joe and Angie traveled to Nashville on 3/4/24. They had an entire week of testing scheduled to determine if Joe was ready for Heart and Kidney transplant. Joe was admitted on 3/5/24 to remove all of the extra fluid he was carrying. He had over 30 pounds of fluid removed! Joe has been approved for Transplant, however obstacles continue to pop up that keep delaying being placed on the transplant list.

Due to the process to get all the extra fluid off of him via the IV, he suffered additional kidney damage. He is on a continuous dialysis to assist his kidneys. He has a port in his neck for the dialysis. He also has a Swan catheter on the other side of his neck that checks the pressures in his heart. He is currently bedridden and has been for the past few weeks.

Once the transplant occurs Joe and Angie must remain in Nashville for at least 2 months. Once they are able to go home, they will have to return Nashville every 4-6 weeks for the next year for appointments. Housing is not provided.

This has and will continue to be a long process. The family is working together to make sure Joe has the care he needs before and after the transplant. While Angie is working and caring for Lauren during the pre-transplant phase, Joe’s sister (Judith Lehman) has stepped away from her job and relocated to Nashville to be by Joe’s side during this time. Even though Joe is in the hospital in the Cardiac ICU, he still needs the care of his family. Angie has been hoping to save FMLA for transplant time, much of that time will be unpaid. It is unknown how long it will take before Joe will get on the list and receive a transplant. Even with medical insurance they have no idea how all this will affect them financially.

Joe is more concerned about taking care of his family than himself right now. Please keep my friends in your thoughts and prayers!!

Thank you!