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On July 25th, my husband Patrick Hitt, age 38, was rushed to the hospital after a sudden and severe medical emergency. He was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis, with his blood sugar reaching dangerously high levels, despite never having been diagnosed as diabetic before. Patrick spent 14 days in the ICU, six of which he was intubated, and is now facing a new reality as a type 2 diabetic who will require insulin for the rest of his life. Since being extubated, Patrick has struggled with swallowing, leading to the placement of a PEG tube in his stomach to help him heal. Despite multiple swallow tests, he continues to aspirate anything he drinks, and his recovery has been complicated by new neurological concerns that doctors are still working to understand. He has now been in the hospital for three weeks, and we are waiting for more answers from the neurology team.
When Patrick is finally able to come home, he will need a home health nurse, ongoing specialist visits, and daily medications—many of which are not fully covered by insurance. His feeding tube liquids are not covered at all, and the copays for follow-up appointments with his primary care doctor, ENT, and neurologist will add up quickly. Patrick’s job has granted him a leave of absence, but it does not fully cover his insurance, and I am now the only one working to support us and our household. It’s just the two of us here, and while his family was able to visit for a few days, most of the time I am balancing work, caring for our pets, and spending every possible moment at the hospital. The staff at Halifax have been wonderful, but it’s been incredibly hard without close support nearby.
Patrick is an incredible man who loves his family deeply and misses being home with his dog, who is his constant companion. We are doing our best to stay hopeful and strong, but we need help to get through this. Any support—whether it’s a donation or a prayer—means more to us than words can express. Thank you for standing with us during this difficult time and for helping Patrick on his road to recovery.
When Patrick is finally able to come home, he will need a home health nurse, ongoing specialist visits, and daily medications—many of which are not fully covered by insurance. His feeding tube liquids are not covered at all, and the copays for follow-up appointments with his primary care doctor, ENT, and neurologist will add up quickly. Patrick’s job has granted him a leave of absence, but it does not fully cover his insurance, and I am now the only one working to support us and our household. It’s just the two of us here, and while his family was able to visit for a few days, most of the time I am balancing work, caring for our pets, and spending every possible moment at the hospital. The staff at Halifax have been wonderful, but it’s been incredibly hard without close support nearby.
Patrick is an incredible man who loves his family deeply and misses being home with his dog, who is his constant companion. We are doing our best to stay hopeful and strong, but we need help to get through this. Any support—whether it’s a donation or a prayer—means more to us than words can express. Thank you for standing with us during this difficult time and for helping Patrick on his road to recovery.