Tom Start's Heart Journey

Hello friends and family,

After many people asking how they can help support my parents through Dad's heart journey and specifically asking if there is a GoFundMe to aid in getting my parents the necessary help they need for things that dad would typically do:

-Snow Removal

-Car Repairs

-House Maintenance

-etc.

Here I am creating the GoFundMe. I will face my parent's discomfort with receiving help later...this is a "ask for forgiveness later" type of moment.

If you are unfamiliar with my Dad's story, it's a long one...

The short(ish) version...I will use my dad's words that he wrote to us, his recollection of how things happened:

"I grew up a middle-class kid, a child of school teachers, attended Christian Schools and went to church twice on Sundays. I had a great family, good friends, and a dog. I was blessed beyond comprehension and didn’t know it.

I played sports (Basketball, Football, and ran track through college). I got a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education with a minor in Physical Education. Stayed in shape and worked out regularly. I even got a Black Belt in Taekwondo in college.

I got married and had three children. I had always had a pretty good job, but at 41 years old, I decided to go into my own business with a partner.

Because I turned 41 and was starting a new stage in my life, my wife insisted I get a physical. During the physical, the doctor heard something he didn’t like and ordered an EKG.

Since my wife worked for the doctor as an M.A, she ran the EKG. As she read the results, I could see the blood drain from her face. My aortic valve was failing. Turns out I was born with a heart defect. My aortic valve only had two flaps (called bi-cuspid), whereas a normal valve has three flaps. This defect caused the flaps to be much less effective and caused them to wear out over the years. This failure was causing an aortic aneurism that made the aorta 3 ½ times the size it should be.

I knew that this is what John Ridder, the actor, died from only a few years before.

I was told I had to be still and move very little for the next three days while they had to set up the surgery to replace the valve and lower part of the aorta.

Interpretation: Be still. Don’t move, or you’re going to die. For three days."

If you want the rest of his story in his words, you'll have to ask him yourself...he would gladly tell you.

Since that first surgery on November 20, 2006, dad has undergone FIVE open heart surgeries...and has consistently been the one to point us to Jesus.

Through his journey, he has clearly, tangibly, and FULLY felt God scoop him up and place him in his lap.

He has written, rewritten and retold his story but is never able to fully put to words that which has never meant to be described in anything other than 'Unfathomable Love...Unspeakable Peace...Unimaginable Joy".

-June 2016...Surgery #2...

-June 2016, less than 12hrs after #2, came #3.

More of Dad's Words:

"I struggled to survive. I can not emphasize that enough. For about 6 ½ hours, I literally struggled to keep alive. They finally had to call it that something was wrong at about 2:30 in the morning, calling my wife to say that “despite all their efforts….” they were going to have to open me back up."

-July of 2019 brought #4

And now October 10, 2022, he had his most recent surgery...after six years of constant issues, uneasiness due to heart arrhythmias and fatigue...he had to "Be still" yet again. This time felt scarier...the risks were much higher because it was the 5th time his heart was undergoing such a traumatic surgery.

Since surgery, dad has struggled with shortness of breath and heart rhythm issues. Thursday, 11/17, it was found that he was in what the doctors labeled as a “lethal” rhythm and directed him directly to the hospital. They performed a cardioversion Thursday, which put him in a better rhythm. However, Friday, 11/18, it was decided he had suffered a heart attack. They replaced his pacemaker with a new one that includes a defibrillator so that if the rhythm returned, he can be shocked out of it.

But unfortunately, further research (thank you, mom, for pushing for it), showed that he has some pretty severe heart damage in the lower chambers of his heart. Most likely from the heart attack, they think occurred either during surgery or right after.

The Heart Failure team has been called to discuss non-surgical treatment options to aid in his heart dysfunction.

This latest set back leaves so many questions and concerns for dads future.

If you know my dad, you know that asking for help makes him uncomfortable. He NEVER wants to be a burden and is much more comfortable being the Helper than the helped.

While we are very much in a state of unknown, we DO know that Dad needs to slow down. That he needs to allow others to come in and help.

With my siblings and I raising young families (9 grandkids between us) it is difficult to get out to help them in a timely manner. Which means paying for help for:

-Snow Removal

-Car Repairs

-House Maintenance/Repair

-etc.

is a much better option, unless you're my stubborn "Dutch/Frugal" dad.

So, I humbly come before you on his behalf. Give only if it is without burden to you. Prayers are tangible help too. We are so grateful for each and every one of you!