Support for Robert and Nika's Family

As some of you know this past Monday my son, Robert, had to have emergency quadruple bypass surgery. It was a huge surprise to all of us because he was just going in for a heart catheterization procedure. The sole purpose of a heart cath is to see if he might need a stent. Then they came out and told Nika that they had put a pump into his artery to help his heart to pump blood and he was in critical condition. They said they had to schedule him for emergency open heart surgery.

Robert’s heart was working at 10%. A normal heart works about 75%. His heart was failing. It’s now working at about 25%. Of course, we are all hoping that his heart function will improve within time. (Robert’s heart is working like an eighty years olds heart, inside a forty-five year old body).

Robert was having a really hard time recovering from surgery, it was a lot for his heart and his body to go through and recover from. He lost a lot of blood that day, and needed a couple of blood transfusions. The doctors had to even take an artery out of his left forearm, because an artery in his left leg was too weak. He was so critical that he had to have a nurse monitor him at his bedside so they could watch him very closely and carefully. We came very close to losing him. Since then, Robert has had made strides that his “Team” at Northern Lights Eastern Maine Medical Center, have been really impressed by. They said that “It’s a miracle that he’s here with us today, because he shouldn’t be.” Robert's condition is now a matter of time whether he will be able to return to work. He will have to rest and not do anything strenuous and he will have more testing in 3 months to determine how his heart is doing.

I don’t ask for help but I am asking for help for his family. Robert should be discharging from the hospital in a couple of days. Because Robert will be out of work and Nika has taken FMLA so she can be home for Robert and their 10 year old daughter, I am asking our friends and family to help my son and his family with household bills, i.e: Groceries, Rent, Gas, transportation to and from his appointments and any medical expenses during this time. All of the money raised, WILL ABSOLUTELY GO TOWARDS THE ABOVE BILLS AND HIS FAMILY'S NEEDS. As you all know, bills come regardless if you are sick or not.

We understand that not everyone is able to donate, but even a simple share is a huge help in a big way.

We all want to thank each and every one of our friends and family for the continued support, prayers, and love. We 100% believe without all of your love and prayers and Robert’s “Team” at NLEMMC, we might not have had the same outcome.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Robert's Mom

Liz Barker