A Mustang Heart - Mark Novak

In January of 2014, my husband Mark began feeling ill. After going to our family doctor, he was referred to a cardiologist. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. After trying various medications, his heart showed little or no improvement. In August of 2014 Mark had a heart catherization to view the damage to his heart, and the news was not good. He was referred to the cardiology department at University of Michigan in August of 2014. In October of 2014 we began going to the University of Michigan Northville Site for monthly appointments. He has had two heart catherizations, two stress tests, and a defibrillator implanted since then. His heart has not shown any improvement and has continued to worsen. We are at the point that Mark is being evaluated by the transplant team at University of Michigan Hospital.

Mark will either be told he is a candidate for a heart transplant or he will have to live with an LVAD device for the rest of his life (5-8 year expectancy with the pump). Our insurance will cover most of his medical expenses.

I am a teacher and am only allowed 10 sick days per year- and can only use 5 of them on a family member. When Mark has this surgery he will be in the hospital for at least 2-3 weeks. Insurance will not pay for my stay down there, the wage loss from my being off from work, or other incidentals.

Here is a link to follow to read an article published by our local newspaper about Mark and our family:

www.ourmidland.com/news/...mark-novak.../article_1de8835f-77ce-552f-9283-adad5435f335.html