The Smith Families sudden loss

Hi, my name is Vanessa Smith; my family and I are lifetime residents of Effingham, NH.

My brother, sister and I were blessed to be raised by two amazing parents. Our Daddy was our Rock; yesterday we made the tough decision to end my Daddy's suffering.

For three weeks, my very stubborn dad did not feel well; on Friday, June 3rd, he was so out of breath after walking to the kitchen that he asked to be taken to the hospital. He was getting worse instead of better. The walk-in said bronchitis and walking pneumonia. He was given an antibiotic and inhaler and sent on his way. They said it could take 48 hours for him to feel better, but by Sunday, June 5th, he was worse and knew something wasn't right.

My mom got him to Memorial Hospital, where they immediately started running tests and said he would be admitted. They did so many tests; his chest X-Ray was clear, but his EKG was abnormal both times it was done, and there were concerns that he had blood clots somewhere. After a chest CT, it was confirmed that he had many clots in his lungs. Maine Medical center did not have a bed available, so he was moved to Mercy hospital in Portland. Mercy ran more tests and discovered that he had a 10 cm long clot on his heart. He was then transferred to Maine med for emergency surgery.

Maine med had to prepare for this unusual surgery by gathering a team and getting needed equipment. His surgery was scheduled for Tuesday, June 7th, at 7 am. Our family was told that it could take 15 mins to 4 hours. Four and a half hours in, we knew something was wrong. Within minutes my sister called me from the hospital to tell me I needed to get to the hospital. All I heard was "maybe goodbye," "30% chance," and "open-heart surgery." With four hysterical children, we got there as quickly as possible.

During his surgery, part of the clot moved and he had to be prepped for open-heart surgery. Then he coded for 4 minutes. We almost lost him then, but he was fighting.

Seeing my Daddy in that hospital bed took my breath away. I've never seen so many tubes in my life. Tubes that were keeping him alive, on full life support and ECMO. With his chest still open. I will spare you all the hellacious details of what our week entailed but will say that for 7 days Maine med and his incredible team of doctors did everything they could to keep my dad alive. However if it could have went wrong it did. The clots were forming more quickly than they could be treated and they couldnt figure out why. He fought so damn hard to come back to us but his hear and lungs were failing. They did everything they could do.

On Monday June 13th just before 4pm with his family by his side he took his last exhaused breath and we said goodbye to the most amazing man I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

With that being said he is leaving behind many people who loved him including his wife of almost 40 years. My dad was always the provider and he did not have life insurance. There is lots to be covered while life moves on without him. I would like to be able to cover his end of life costs as well as help my mother feel some kind of finacial security while she learns how to do this life without her soul mate.