- G
Husband 1 month in ICU
Hi this is Kathryn Shvorak, I’m writing this support letter to help my friend Irina and her husband Alex Lebedev, who is currently, is in Harborview Medical center, Seattle Neurological ICU. Alex has been in the Intensive Care Unit for over a month now; he got transferred to Seattle in the middle of July from Bellingham,WA.
Doctors are not quite sure what is wrong with Alex and were and are trying to treat a possible infection in his brain and they did diagnose him with Hydrocephalus- a condition that occurs when fluid builds up in the skull and causes the brain to swell(this usually affects children under 4 and older adults, not a man in his mid 30’s).
Alex was taken by an ambulance to St. Joseph’s hospital after he was found by a family member “shaking” (which were seizures caused by the brain swelling due to the built up pressure), he was unresponsive and had hard time breathing. We are not sure how long he has been in that condition before he got taken to the hospital. When Alex got to the hospital he lost consciousness and stopped breathing completely, the ER team and to get him quickly on life support. Multiple tests were ran, blood and urine samples taken- everything was clear, besides CT scan and MRI which showed fluid built up in his brain. Doctors performed an emergency procedure to relieve pressure; they had to drill through Alex’s skull and insert shunt (a tube system that helps drain the excess fluid around the brain into abdomen). Alex will have to have this tube for the rest of his life.
After the diagnosis and being able to research, Alex and his wife now understand why Alex had headaches and memory loss since he was young; this condition has hit him all of a sudden and hard.
Alex is able to hold a normal conversation now with his family, but his life is under question at the moment. He did suffer some brain damage, we don’t know how extensive it is yet, but he has to use a walker with assistance. His fine motor skills are suffering as well. Currently doctors are not promising anything,there is no full diagnosis or explanation of what’s going on. Nevertheless they say that if he does recover he will have to do 6 to 12 months of physical therapy. Alex has gone multiple diagnostic procedures, he has lost a lot of weight, goes back and forth with the feeding tube depending how he is doing. Unexplainably for doctors he is losing different sensations in his body, the latest is his sense of taste.
Irina, his wife has been torn between taking care of their barely 1 year old daughter and long drives between towns trying to support her husband and stay positive for him. She does not have a working vehicle at the moment, and has been getting a ride from friends and family members. Alex’s mom who isn’t in good health is taking care of his 2 sons. The Lebedev’s have to evacuate their apartment by the end of this month, due to inability to pay their rent.
The family is looking into being reunited and hopefully having a normal life. We are praying to God for a miracle and thankful for your support and prayers as well.
In my heart I knew I needed to reach out to everyone who is able and willing to help this family. I believe and stand strong to do my best to give hope to this family when they are facing very tough times and asking for your consideration to do the same.
They are facing unexpected hospital bills, buying another car or fixing the one they have, moving costs, and paying for storage. Living costs is high in Washington state and we don’t know when if ever Alex will be able to work again (he had his own construction business before). So the money will help them get on their feet.
The money is going to offset their storage unit while they are waiting for Alex to get out of the hospital. My friend, Sasha Jensen/Rybkin and I and anyone close to their family will be in charge of trying to figure out their living situation, buying a car, setting up a storage, moving expenses, transportation, bills, living expenses because this is not what Irina should be worrying about right now.
There isn’t a contribution small enough that eventually wouldn’t make a big difference. Thank you and God bless.
Hi this is Kathryn Shvorak, I’m writing this support letter to help my friend Irina and her husband Alex Lebedev, who is currently, is in Harborview Medical center, Seattle Neurological ICU. Alex has been in the Intensive Care Unit for over a month now; he got transferred to Seattle in the middle of July from Bellingham,WA.
Doctors are not quite sure what is wrong with Alex and were and are trying to treat a possible infection in his brain and they did diagnose him with Hydrocephalus- a condition that occurs when fluid builds up in the skull and causes the brain to swell(this usually affects children under 4 and older adults, not a man in his mid 30’s).
Alex was taken by an ambulance to St. Joseph’s hospital after he was found by a family member “shaking” (which were seizures caused by the brain swelling due to the built up pressure), he was unresponsive and had hard time breathing. We are not sure how long he has been in that condition before he got taken to the hospital. When Alex got to the hospital he lost consciousness and stopped breathing completely, the ER team and to get him quickly on life support. Multiple tests were ran, blood and urine samples taken- everything was clear, besides CT scan and MRI which showed fluid built up in his brain. Doctors performed an emergency procedure to relieve pressure; they had to drill through Alex’s skull and insert shunt (a tube system that helps drain the excess fluid around the brain into abdomen). Alex will have to have this tube for the rest of his life.
After the diagnosis and being able to research, Alex and his wife now understand why Alex had headaches and memory loss since he was young; this condition has hit him all of a sudden and hard.
Alex is able to hold a normal conversation now with his family, but his life is under question at the moment. He did suffer some brain damage, we don’t know how extensive it is yet, but he has to use a walker with assistance. His fine motor skills are suffering as well. Currently doctors are not promising anything,there is no full diagnosis or explanation of what’s going on. Nevertheless they say that if he does recover he will have to do 6 to 12 months of physical therapy. Alex has gone multiple diagnostic procedures, he has lost a lot of weight, goes back and forth with the feeding tube depending how he is doing. Unexplainably for doctors he is losing different sensations in his body, the latest is his sense of taste.
Irina, his wife has been torn between taking care of their barely 1 year old daughter and long drives between towns trying to support her husband and stay positive for him. She does not have a working vehicle at the moment, and has been getting a ride from friends and family members. Alex’s mom who isn’t in good health is taking care of his 2 sons. The Lebedev’s have to evacuate their apartment by the end of this month, due to inability to pay their rent.
The family is looking into being reunited and hopefully having a normal life. We are praying to God for a miracle and thankful for your support and prayers as well.
In my heart I knew I needed to reach out to everyone who is able and willing to help this family. I believe and stand strong to do my best to give hope to this family when they are facing very tough times and asking for your consideration to do the same.
They are facing unexpected hospital bills, buying another car or fixing the one they have, moving costs, and paying for storage. Living costs is high in Washington state and we don’t know when if ever Alex will be able to work again (he had his own construction business before). So the money will help them get on their feet.
The money is going to offset their storage unit while they are waiting for Alex to get out of the hospital. My friend, Sasha Jensen/Rybkin and I and anyone close to their family will be in charge of trying to figure out their living situation, buying a car, setting up a storage, moving expenses, transportation, bills, living expenses because this is not what Irina should be worrying about right now.
There isn’t a contribution small enough that eventually wouldn’t make a big difference. Thank you and God bless.