Stand by Joe: Heart Condition and Hope

First things first, if any of y'all know Joe Oglesby then you know he isn't the kind to ask for anything but he's always there if you need him. Doesn't matter what it is, if you need him he's there. The tides have turned and Joe is in desperate need of some help.

So a little back story, the last few years Joe nearly lost his foot because he had stepped on a rusty nail and men like him don't go to the hospital. It continued to worsen fast forward a couple years he was suddenly getting sick all the time and something just wasn't right hed go to the Dr & (I know first hand because I would take him). They tried treating everything but the problem. Or their famous line of, " Joe you just gotta lay down and stay off your feet!" Well when you only have yourself to take care of you that is not an option. So he kept on working, kept doing what he had to do.

Until a friend to him to Waco where he finds out that they nearly cut his foot off and he nearly died from sepsis because he had been walking on a shattered bone in his foot. How they didn't catch this for so long is unsettling but it's the way it is.

But he did not stop doing what he had to do for all those around him while still managing to take care of himself.

Fast forward to just a few months back of this 2024

Life has gotten pretty peachy for Joe he's settled back down and fell in love. His health seemed to be good. He's recently married and living in a honeymoon fantasy. We all know what they say. When life gets good be ready for something bad to happen we'll back in November 2024 Joe was working and suddenly he couldn't hardly breathe he was dizzy and something was definitely not ok. His wife took him to the hospital in Waco and hours later he was in a coma.

Joe has been diagnosed with: Atrial Fibrillation with rapid ventricular response.

Well to the uneducated eye that doesn't sound very serious but let me assure you it is life threatening. He was in a coma for a week and put on a ventilator. During that time he had gastrointestinal bleeding, respiratory failure, acute kidney injury and pneumonia.

When he awoke the Drs gave him the devastating news that over half of his heart is no longer functioning. He had to learn how to walk and talk again. All while also having severe gout. Joe won't be able to work again. Not until he gets the procedure where the Dr will shock his heart back into a normal rhythm. Each day that goes by he is in risk of heart attack, stroke or sudden death. This is by far nothing to take lightly. He not only is recently married but they are expecting.

He isn't too proud to ask for help but THEY are in dire need. He has already applied for disability and social security and because his case is terminal we hope to get news within the next few months but until then he needs all the help he can get.

Their baby is due in June 2025. The doctors gave Joe a year to live if he continues working his tail off just to survive. He is not asking for handouts or to be a charity case this is one man whose life is on the line just hoping to be there and when one life enters the world. Thank y'all and if you have any questions we all are here to answer them. Prayers and encouraging words are very much needed as well not just financially.