Ritz's Ravitch Procedure
Donation protected
My sister Ritiely went to the Philippines for 2.5 weeks to treat patients in an outpatient clinic and medical mission trips.
While she was on her trip, her heart rate dropped to 30bpm (resting heart rate should be between 60-100 bpm). She had an EKG which revealed nothing.
When she returned to the United States all the exams turned up normal; echo, blood pressure, EKG.
A few days later she was then admitted to the hospital for chest pain which started from simply standing. The CMR revealed that her previously “harmless” pectus excavatum was compressing her heart and aorta, leaving just 5 centemeters from her sunken breastbone to her back. She was then sent home and told they would monitor her heart rate while she was home. The next day the hospital called Ritiely to inform her she was having a heart attack. Luckily, my mom already had her in the emergency room.
That’s when she went to a DO cardiologist (Doctor of Osteopathic) who took on the case to have a corrective surgery done for her condition.
Ritiely has had PE her whole life, she was told that it wouldn’t affect her. It is a condition that is normally treated in childhood, but now with the rapid heart rate spikes and drops, she is now on mandatory bed rest because anything as simple as going to the bathroom can cost her life right now.
In the last month she's now stayed at 3 different hospitals, has had a loop recorder implantation surgery, and she needs to be transffered to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota for the reconstructive surgery October 24, 2017. There are not many doctors that specialize in this reconstructive surgery for adults, therefore she will be required to stay there for a few months for regular checks ups, physical therapy, and recovery.
Her insurance will not cover this surgery, and we are currently fighting an appeal to cover the out of zone network for her HMO coverage . Even if they do cover 60% of the cost, it's still alot to take on for my family.
ANYTHING helps, nothing is too small. if you cannot donate, please share.
Personal statement from her med school application:
"I want to be a doctor because I want to give patients control of their health, to use my hands to enhance a patient’s natural healing mechanisms. I want to work with patients so they achieve their best health possible. Because as someone told me: “Doctors don’t cure anything, they just provide the body an opportunity to heal itself”.
While she was on her trip, her heart rate dropped to 30bpm (resting heart rate should be between 60-100 bpm). She had an EKG which revealed nothing.
When she returned to the United States all the exams turned up normal; echo, blood pressure, EKG.
A few days later she was then admitted to the hospital for chest pain which started from simply standing. The CMR revealed that her previously “harmless” pectus excavatum was compressing her heart and aorta, leaving just 5 centemeters from her sunken breastbone to her back. She was then sent home and told they would monitor her heart rate while she was home. The next day the hospital called Ritiely to inform her she was having a heart attack. Luckily, my mom already had her in the emergency room.
That’s when she went to a DO cardiologist (Doctor of Osteopathic) who took on the case to have a corrective surgery done for her condition.
Ritiely has had PE her whole life, she was told that it wouldn’t affect her. It is a condition that is normally treated in childhood, but now with the rapid heart rate spikes and drops, she is now on mandatory bed rest because anything as simple as going to the bathroom can cost her life right now.
In the last month she's now stayed at 3 different hospitals, has had a loop recorder implantation surgery, and she needs to be transffered to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota for the reconstructive surgery October 24, 2017. There are not many doctors that specialize in this reconstructive surgery for adults, therefore she will be required to stay there for a few months for regular checks ups, physical therapy, and recovery.
Her insurance will not cover this surgery, and we are currently fighting an appeal to cover the out of zone network for her HMO coverage . Even if they do cover 60% of the cost, it's still alot to take on for my family.
ANYTHING helps, nothing is too small. if you cannot donate, please share.
Personal statement from her med school application:
"I want to be a doctor because I want to give patients control of their health, to use my hands to enhance a patient’s natural healing mechanisms. I want to work with patients so they achieve their best health possible. Because as someone told me: “Doctors don’t cure anything, they just provide the body an opportunity to heal itself”.
Organizer and beneficiary
Rubie DeLon
Organizer
Orlando, FL
Ritz DeLon
Beneficiary
