Fighting to Survive
On October 22nd my brother Chris was admitted to Central Vermont Hospital for several abscesses within his abdomen which formed due to a colon fistula. He was in severe pain and had been suffering in pain for several weeks prior but believed whatever was wrong with him would pass and he would be ok. The evening he was admitted he was in Septic Shock which alone has a 50% chance of morbidity due to the severity of the infection. We learned that he would need surgery and were told his chance of surviving surgery was only 18% because Chris has Chirosis of the liver.
Chris learned of his Chirosis on his 40th birthday when he suffered from hepatic encephalopathy due to liver failure. He spent several weeks in a Coma and we were told his chances of survival then were not in his favor. He beat the odds and recovered and has not even once had a drop of alcohol. He stopped eating processed foods, began eating clean along with a daily regimen of vitamins and minerals that support liver functioning and has been doing great until this colon infection occurred.
Due to his increased risk of death CVMC could not manage his care and transferred him to Burlington Medical Center who were able to place drainage tubes in his abdomen to help drain the abscesses but they refused to perform the surgery that was necessary to save his life. They openly admitted that they knew he could not survive surgery and that he needed to be seen by surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital. After a week in Burlington and no bed availability in Massachusetts, Chris was sent home with two drains in his abdomen that were meant to drain into bags but actually one drained around the tube and soaked his skin and clothing constantly, fluid build up in his abdomen that was so severe he looked as if he was 9 months pregnant, legs and feet that were so full of fluid he could barely walk along with pain medication and an oral antibiotic that they switched him to less than 12 hours prior to discharge as well an appointment with a colon surgeon in Massachusetts for November 22nd.
Within 18 hours of being home Chris was rushed back to the emergency room once again in Septic Shock. His blood pressure was 71/41 and he was at risk of organ failure with an imminent risk of heart failure. Doctors and nurses worked for hours to stabilize him while fighting with Burlington to take him back until a bed in Massachusetts was available.
Chris was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital four nights ago. Myself, his daughter, Alyssa and our mother Doreen followed the ambulance down in the middle of the night and have rented a room near the Hospital as we can’t remain in ICU 24 hours a day. Two of the four nights we have slept in the ICU waiting room due to him being so unstable and fearing him being alone if his body could no longer fight. We are fortunate to be where there is a shuttle to bring us back and forth each day and night but even now our mother is spending the evening on a bench in the ICU waiting room because Chris had to undergo emergency surgery last-night to save his life. He was taken for surgery at around 8PM and we prayed that he would survive the surgery. He’s a fighter and thankfully 3 long hours later we learned that he survived surgery but to prepare ourselves as his chance of survival was still minimal. He’s a fighter and has shown more improvement then the doctors have expected! The doctors and nurses here are taking amazing care of him and doing everything in their power to keep him here with us. We are so grateful for the care here but even in the best care and while he shows signs of improving he remains in critical condition and has a very long road ahead of him with at least two more major surgeries at some point and needs his family by his side.
His healthier life style has allowed him to maintain his home as a single father of two teenage children Alyssa & Elijah whom he loves more than I can explain for Nearly five years. He has fought to stay alive for his children and despite his efforts he is now fighting again to come back to his children at this moment. We have people around the world praying for him and for his children which we can never thank everyone enough for and as much as I am swallowing my pride right now the financial costs to stay in hotels in Boston to be with him are starting to add up very quickly. We are exhausting every resource we have to be by his side but need any help we can get as credit cards will reach their limits. I have never been one to ask for help and I know that everyone has their own struggles but anything will help us to stay close to Chris while he continues to find his way back to his children. He’s my best friend and the strongest man I know and he deserves to not spend what could be the remainder of his days here in earth with his family by his side and it makes me physically ill knowing that soon the cost will be too much to manage he will be alone in Massachusetts without the love and support of his family.
Thank you for taking the time to listen and please pray and share this with your friends and family.
