Tim's New Heart
Donation protected
Whether you call him Tim, Bam, or even Doc from his time with the Marines, everyone he meets calls him a friend. Tim Bammes is the kind of guy you want in your corner. No matter what you need, Tim says YES and then pours his heart into it 10000%.
Now Tim needs our help and a new heart.
On Feb. 26 2020, Tim went to the ER. He wasn't himself, was having a hard time breathing and moving about. Just a few hours later they whisked him from the Hampton Veteran's Administration Medical Center to the Coronary Critical Care Unit at Navy Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia where he was told he was in congestive heart failure, that his heart was only "squeezing" at 10% and that he would likely need a heart transplant.
What? How could that be? Tim is a relatively healthy and active guy, just 35 years old with no history of heart trouble and out of the clear blue sky, he needs a TRANSPLANT?
Well sure enough, here we are exactly two weeks from that fateful day and after 5 days in Portsmouth, and 8 days at the VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, we now find ourselves at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, Coronary Critical Care, actually awaiting a heart. Tim is currently confined to bed as a balloon pump was implanted through his groin yesterday. The pump is helping to support his heart while we wait.
Naturally this is shocking and taking a toll on finances both in the immediate and future. Tim and his family are asking for your support to help with medical expenses and supplies, lost wages, travel and temporary housing. Tim's Mom has been with him since Day 2 and living away from home. She will remain with Tim until four weeks post surgery as he requires a caregiver (a mother's work is never done!). They will need to stay in the Richmond area and need lodging. Additionally, she will exhaust her PTO in the next week or so. Tim's brother Nick and sister Sam have both been out to support Tim and have exhausted their PTO.
But most of all, Tim needs the assistance. He will also exhaust his PTO shortly which means he has no income, and depending upon how soon the transplant happens, and how long his recovery is, could find himself using up all 480 hours of FMLA and losing the job he loves so much.
Almost as shocking as a heart transplant, we learned today they they are likely to pull all of Tim's teeth as a precaution. He has a fair number of issues and has struggled with gum infections and the transplant team does not want to take any chances of infection post-transplant. To address replacements - whether implants or dentures - will be costly.
If you were not aware of Tim's background, he served in the Navy for 5 years working as a Combat Corpsman (Medic) supporting the Marine Corps. He did overseas deployments in both Iraq and Afghanistan. When he left the Navy, Tim was called to support our troops once again when he was hired at the Veteran's Administration in Spokane. He has since transferred to the Hampton VA in Virginia where he has served in a number of positions within the Behavioral Health Department. Now with more than 10 years supporting our troops and Vets, Tim can't wait to get back to the job he loves. (With a new heart of course!)
Unfortunately no one can plan for a turn of events like this, so we hope that you will help us get through this tough time with any donation you can spare. In addition to any cash donations, we would also gratefully accept donations of any American Airline or Delta air miles or Marriott Hotel points (there is an extended stay hotel under the Marriott brand that would be ideal) so family can visit and Tim can stay at post surgery. We expect the post-surgery stay to be one of bigger expenses. Once cleared by the doctors, Tim will travel to Indianapolis to stay with his family for the remainder of his recovery. If you have air miles or hotel points to donate, please email us and we will provide the account numbers for the donations.
So, if you are a Vet, Active Duty, work for the Government, or you are an Uncle, a Brother, a Son, a Friend, Gay, Straight, or.....if you have a heart (get it? Heart humor...we are trying to keep our senses of humor through all of this!) we all thank you so much for the prayers, words of support and your generosity.
Team Tim
Note about how funds are handled: Veronica (Tim's Mom) will be personally coordinating withdrawls as needed and all funds are routed to a joint account both Tim and Veronica can access so expenses can be paid by either as we move through this tough time. Thank you again for your help!
Now Tim needs our help and a new heart.
On Feb. 26 2020, Tim went to the ER. He wasn't himself, was having a hard time breathing and moving about. Just a few hours later they whisked him from the Hampton Veteran's Administration Medical Center to the Coronary Critical Care Unit at Navy Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia where he was told he was in congestive heart failure, that his heart was only "squeezing" at 10% and that he would likely need a heart transplant.
What? How could that be? Tim is a relatively healthy and active guy, just 35 years old with no history of heart trouble and out of the clear blue sky, he needs a TRANSPLANT?
Well sure enough, here we are exactly two weeks from that fateful day and after 5 days in Portsmouth, and 8 days at the VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, we now find ourselves at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, Coronary Critical Care, actually awaiting a heart. Tim is currently confined to bed as a balloon pump was implanted through his groin yesterday. The pump is helping to support his heart while we wait.
Naturally this is shocking and taking a toll on finances both in the immediate and future. Tim and his family are asking for your support to help with medical expenses and supplies, lost wages, travel and temporary housing. Tim's Mom has been with him since Day 2 and living away from home. She will remain with Tim until four weeks post surgery as he requires a caregiver (a mother's work is never done!). They will need to stay in the Richmond area and need lodging. Additionally, she will exhaust her PTO in the next week or so. Tim's brother Nick and sister Sam have both been out to support Tim and have exhausted their PTO.
But most of all, Tim needs the assistance. He will also exhaust his PTO shortly which means he has no income, and depending upon how soon the transplant happens, and how long his recovery is, could find himself using up all 480 hours of FMLA and losing the job he loves so much.
Almost as shocking as a heart transplant, we learned today they they are likely to pull all of Tim's teeth as a precaution. He has a fair number of issues and has struggled with gum infections and the transplant team does not want to take any chances of infection post-transplant. To address replacements - whether implants or dentures - will be costly.
If you were not aware of Tim's background, he served in the Navy for 5 years working as a Combat Corpsman (Medic) supporting the Marine Corps. He did overseas deployments in both Iraq and Afghanistan. When he left the Navy, Tim was called to support our troops once again when he was hired at the Veteran's Administration in Spokane. He has since transferred to the Hampton VA in Virginia where he has served in a number of positions within the Behavioral Health Department. Now with more than 10 years supporting our troops and Vets, Tim can't wait to get back to the job he loves. (With a new heart of course!)
Unfortunately no one can plan for a turn of events like this, so we hope that you will help us get through this tough time with any donation you can spare. In addition to any cash donations, we would also gratefully accept donations of any American Airline or Delta air miles or Marriott Hotel points (there is an extended stay hotel under the Marriott brand that would be ideal) so family can visit and Tim can stay at post surgery. We expect the post-surgery stay to be one of bigger expenses. Once cleared by the doctors, Tim will travel to Indianapolis to stay with his family for the remainder of his recovery. If you have air miles or hotel points to donate, please email us and we will provide the account numbers for the donations.
So, if you are a Vet, Active Duty, work for the Government, or you are an Uncle, a Brother, a Son, a Friend, Gay, Straight, or.....if you have a heart (get it? Heart humor...we are trying to keep our senses of humor through all of this!) we all thank you so much for the prayers, words of support and your generosity.
Team Tim
Note about how funds are handled: Veronica (Tim's Mom) will be personally coordinating withdrawls as needed and all funds are routed to a joint account both Tim and Veronica can access so expenses can be paid by either as we move through this tough time. Thank you again for your help!
Fundraising team: Team Tim (2)
Team Tim
Organizer
Richmond, VA
Tim Bammes
Team member
