Support Michael White's Heart Surgery Recovery

Support Michael White During His Heart Surgery Recovery

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers,

We are reaching out to you today to ask for your support for our dear coworker and friend, Michael White. Recently, Michael faced a series of unexpected and serious health challenges that have required multiple heart surgeries. As he recovers, he has had to miss a significant amount of work, leading to financial stress on top of his health concerns.

About Michael:

Michael is a dedicated and hardworking member of our team at Wu Chow. Always ready with a smile and a helping hand, he has been a cherished part of our work family. His positive attitude and resilience have been an inspiration to all of us. We care deeply about Michael and want to do everything we can to support him during this difficult time.

The Challenge:

Michael’s medical difficulties began in October 2022. After a week of feeling very sick, he went to the hospital with breathing difficulties, extreme fatigue, and abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib), which was treated with medication. During his week-long hospital stay, doctors discovered the cause of the A-Fib: a faulty aortic valve with blood regurgitation. This condition required open-heart surgery within the next 6 to 9 months to repair or replace the valve.

Fortunately, the diagnosis of A-Fib saved Michael’s life, as the valve could have failed at any moment, which would have been 100% fatal. However, missing three weeks of work for treatment set him back on rent, bills, and credit cards.

On March 24, 2023, Michael underwent successful open-heart surgery to repair the valve with a graft. The recovery process was extensive, taking nearly two months. He missed two months of work without financial relief, which wiped out his savings and put him behind on rent and bills.

As soon as he was medically cleared, Michael worked two jobs for over a year to catch up. However, in early May 2024, he fell ill again with fever, chills, insomnia, and lack of appetite. After weeks of symptoms, he returned to the hospital due to breathing difficulties.

Doctors initially struggled to diagnose his condition but eventually discovered he had a blood infection called Rothia Mucilaginousa. This bacteria, while common, can become lethal if it enters the bloodstream in someone with a compromised immune system. Michael was treated with antibiotics and sent home with a six-week self-administered antibiotics program. He was advised to rest at home and not work for at least four weeks.

Unfortunately, 10 days later, Michael experienced severe bloating and breathing difficulties and returned to the hospital. After many days of various diagnoses, it was found that the graft on his heart valve was deeply infected with Rothia. This required another urgent open-heart surgery to replace the infected graft, which was successfully completed on July 10th.

While Michael’s recovery is going well, he will have been out of work for over three months by the time he can return. This extended period without income has been financially devastating. He needs to pay $6,000 for his deductible and everyday bills, on top of additional unforeseen expenses. He is working with his landlord and trying to secure a loan, but the financial setback is significant.

How You Can Help:

We are raising funds to help Michael with:

- $6,000 for his medical deductible and everyday bills

- Additional medical expenses related to his surgeries and recovery

- Daily living expenses while he is unable to work

- Any necessary rehabilitation or follow-up treatments

Our goal is to raise $10,000 to ensure Michael can recover without the added stress of financial burdens.

Your Support Means the World:

Every donation, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in Michael’s life. Your generosity will help alleviate the financial stress he is experiencing and allow him to focus on what truly matters – his health and recovery.

Michael has always been there for us, and now it's our turn to be there for him. Let’s show Michael how much we care and support him through this challenging time. Together, we can make a difference and help him get back on his feet.

Thank You:

We are incredibly grateful for your support during this challenging time. Your kindness and generosity will not only help Michael financially but also provide emotional support, knowing that he is surrounded by caring and compassionate people.

Please share this campaign with your networks to help us reach as many people as possible. Together, we can make a positive impact and support Michael on his journey to recovery.

With heartfelt thanks,

Wu Chow & Chameleon Group