Steve Abeyta's battle with COVID

12/27 Update:
Thank you so much to all have already donated.  It is SO appreciated!  Sadly, today, Steve's family made the heartbreaking decision to remove Steve from life support, and he passed away peacefully at 3:30pm MT.  This will be a long road for Steve's family, and your donations will help to offset the medical bills, as well as the necessary car repairs as a result of the theft of the catalytic converter.  Beth is so grateful for all of your support.  Thank you!!

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On December 4, 2021, following our family Thanksgiving gathering, Steve tested positive for COVID. While he was fully vaccinated, he has been immunocompromised since his kidney transplant on July 19, 2010. On 12/7/21, Beth took Steve to the emergency room, and he was immediately admitted. In addition to COVID, Steve had developed both bacterial and viral pneumonia. He spent five days in the hospital before he was discharged and sent home with oxygen.

 

Unfortunately, on 12/14, after just 1.5 days at home, Steve took a turn for the worse, and was transported back to the hospital via ambulance. He was initially placed on a BiPAP machine to help improve his oxygen saturation levels. Because that machine makes the virus easier to transmit, Steve was not allowed any visitors. However, after a couple of days, he had improved enough to be stepped down to regular oxygen, and Beth was permitted to be in his room. The goal of the medical staff was to step down his oxygen supplementation gradually, and it looked like a real possibility that Steve would be home for Christmas.

 

Meanwhile, while Beth was visiting Steve at the hospital on 12/20, the catalytic converter was stolen from her Toyota Sequoia. The car had been totaled several years ago due to a hail storm, so none of the $3,100 repair cost will be covered by insurance.

 

On 12/23, after several days on oxygen supplementation, Steve's saturation levels dropped, he was again placed on a BiPAP machine, and very shortly afterward, the decision was made to sedate and intubate him. He has remained sedated since then. On 12/24, Steve developed pneumothorax in both lungs, tiny holes allowing air to escape into the chest cavity.

 

Unfortunately, as of 12/26, despite all efforts, x-rays of his lungs show continued deterioration. Doctors continue to monitor Steve's condition, but have no other options available to them to help him.

 

While the doctors are doing everything they can, and Steve's insurance will cover a portion of the medical care and ambulance, the bills for more than three weeks in the hospital, including ICU care, are rapidly mounting. The incremental cost of an incapacitated vehicle and subsequent repair bill only add to the burden.

 

All donations will go to Steve's family to offset the cost of their vehicle repair and hospital bills, and any amount is appreciated. Thank you for anything you can do to help the the Abeyta family during this terrible time.