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"When Bad Things Happen To Good People" ...here is our story.
Two weeks ago Scott came home from work complaining he didn't feel good; he had a headache and chills. He spent almost 3 days in bed fighting a 103.4 temperature, severe headache and a nasty cough. We brought him to urgent care thinking he had the flu so he could get on meds. He tested negative for the flu but the doctor confirmed he had pneumonia and his O2 levels were down. He was put on oxygen to bring it back up but every time the mask was removed his levels would drop again. We were told he needed to go overnight to the ER to monitor & elevate his O2 and then he would likely leave the next day with oral antibiotics. Scott did not go home the next day.
Fast forward through days of uncertainty, Scott had now been on a ventilator for 10 days and Toni's mornings meeting with the doctors seems to bring worse news every day, Scott needed open heart surgery and it was serious enough to be performed on a Sunday morning. He was transferred, along with his support machines, to Strong Memorial Hospital and placed in the very capable hands of Dr. Knight. In surgery, Dr. Knight found out that Scott was born with a bi-cusped aortic valve, not the tri-cusped that most people are born with. His heart could not handle the respiratory cold & pneumonia , his faulty aortic valve blew from the stress on his body. This was a birth defect that Scott was unaware of and we are very fortunate that he was already at the hospital. You can imagine the shock that we felt, it was terrifying.
Scott is home but is very sore and gets tired very easily. He cannot use his arms to push or pull himself up because of his surgery and breast bone being cut through. He cannot put his arm above his shoulder height either. He has lost 25 lbs. in the 2 weeks that he was in hospital. He will be on 4 medications 2x/day for a while; blood thinner, blood pressure medication and meds to regulate his heart rate.
Sadly, we are looking at Scott to be out of work for up to 6 months. His job has a zero restriction policy for his position. He is limited to lifting less than 10 lbs. for the 1st 6 weeks, then less than 20 lbs. for 4 weeks then 30 lbs. for 4 weeks and up in increments from there. He will have a visiting nurse come to the house twice weekly for at least 6 weeks. The lab will send someone twice weekly for blood work until his levels are correct for his blood thinner, which he will be on the rest of his life. A physical therapist will come twice weekly to help him regain the strength he lost during his 2 week hospital stay being on the paralytic & teach him strategies within his restrictions to take care of himself with the least amount of help from others.
Right now his daily goal is to walk 3-5 minutes/3x a day. What was once not even a thought is now very difficult. It takes him the 3 minutes to do 1 lap around our 1st floor.
After 6 weeks he will need to go to an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation center 2-3x/wk. for 10-12 wks. where he will be monitored while learning to exercise under his new restrictions. It's going to be a long journey and tough recovery!
Message from Mel & Kristy:
Thank you for all of the prayers & support that you have given Toni & Scott. Please help us support them as they work through his medical set back. Scott's job does not provide any financial help for long term disability which will lead to no income potential during his rehab.
It is important that we come together to help two people that truly would come to our assistance if needed.
Any support is greatly appreciated, while they both are very humbled by this they are also touched by your warm wishes and desire to help them during this difficult time. They will be using the funds towards filling the financial gaps that this situation has created and to pay for the medical bills from Scotts hospital stay and rehabilitation.
Thank you again for your love and support!
Two weeks ago Scott came home from work complaining he didn't feel good; he had a headache and chills. He spent almost 3 days in bed fighting a 103.4 temperature, severe headache and a nasty cough. We brought him to urgent care thinking he had the flu so he could get on meds. He tested negative for the flu but the doctor confirmed he had pneumonia and his O2 levels were down. He was put on oxygen to bring it back up but every time the mask was removed his levels would drop again. We were told he needed to go overnight to the ER to monitor & elevate his O2 and then he would likely leave the next day with oral antibiotics. Scott did not go home the next day.
Fast forward through days of uncertainty, Scott had now been on a ventilator for 10 days and Toni's mornings meeting with the doctors seems to bring worse news every day, Scott needed open heart surgery and it was serious enough to be performed on a Sunday morning. He was transferred, along with his support machines, to Strong Memorial Hospital and placed in the very capable hands of Dr. Knight. In surgery, Dr. Knight found out that Scott was born with a bi-cusped aortic valve, not the tri-cusped that most people are born with. His heart could not handle the respiratory cold & pneumonia , his faulty aortic valve blew from the stress on his body. This was a birth defect that Scott was unaware of and we are very fortunate that he was already at the hospital. You can imagine the shock that we felt, it was terrifying.
Scott is home but is very sore and gets tired very easily. He cannot use his arms to push or pull himself up because of his surgery and breast bone being cut through. He cannot put his arm above his shoulder height either. He has lost 25 lbs. in the 2 weeks that he was in hospital. He will be on 4 medications 2x/day for a while; blood thinner, blood pressure medication and meds to regulate his heart rate.
Sadly, we are looking at Scott to be out of work for up to 6 months. His job has a zero restriction policy for his position. He is limited to lifting less than 10 lbs. for the 1st 6 weeks, then less than 20 lbs. for 4 weeks then 30 lbs. for 4 weeks and up in increments from there. He will have a visiting nurse come to the house twice weekly for at least 6 weeks. The lab will send someone twice weekly for blood work until his levels are correct for his blood thinner, which he will be on the rest of his life. A physical therapist will come twice weekly to help him regain the strength he lost during his 2 week hospital stay being on the paralytic & teach him strategies within his restrictions to take care of himself with the least amount of help from others.
Right now his daily goal is to walk 3-5 minutes/3x a day. What was once not even a thought is now very difficult. It takes him the 3 minutes to do 1 lap around our 1st floor.
After 6 weeks he will need to go to an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation center 2-3x/wk. for 10-12 wks. where he will be monitored while learning to exercise under his new restrictions. It's going to be a long journey and tough recovery!
Message from Mel & Kristy:
Thank you for all of the prayers & support that you have given Toni & Scott. Please help us support them as they work through his medical set back. Scott's job does not provide any financial help for long term disability which will lead to no income potential during his rehab.
It is important that we come together to help two people that truly would come to our assistance if needed.
Any support is greatly appreciated, while they both are very humbled by this they are also touched by your warm wishes and desire to help them during this difficult time. They will be using the funds towards filling the financial gaps that this situation has created and to pay for the medical bills from Scotts hospital stay and rehabilitation.
Thank you again for your love and support!
Organizer and beneficiary
Brooke M Wright
Beneficiary