
This GoFundMe page is to benefit Rick Riemer of Chilton, WI. Rick is 45 years old and has been involved in the draft horse industry for most of his life. Rick has worked with a multitude of draft horse clients throughout his career.
Rick has had to deal with diabetes since he was a child. Approximately in 2006, his kidneys became so severely weakened that dialysis was insufficient and his pancreas was producing no insulin. He was put on a donation list and was blessed with a life-saving kidney/pancreas transplant in 2007 at University Hospital in Madison.
Rick returned to working in the draft horse business but over the past few years his health has deteriorated. His donated kidney was severely damaged by a flu strain to the point where he had complete renal failure. After that episode, he was put on a donation list for another new kidney and has been on the list for 3 years.
Now Rick is on dialysis 3 times a week. This dialysis, though vital due to the kidney failure, severely weakens his immune system which has caused him to be in intensive care for 2-1/2 days during March 2016.
Rick has had a couple of stents put in recently. He also has had back issues, which necessitated physical therapy. His energy level is so sapped, that anything above a slow walk causes him shortness of breath. All of these health issues have kept him from working and he is now on disability.
With all these medical issues, Rick had gone through personal setbacks also. He had gone through a divorce which took him off of a private health insurance plan onto Medicaid. Because of this, some of the medications aren’t covered by co-pays and are getting beyond his meager disability and Medicaid funds.
He has mounting personal and medical bills. His utilities are in danger of being cut off because he has to channel so much of his income to medical expenses.
Rick is a generous soul and is not one to bring attention to himself. Though he has a close network of relatives trying to assist him, it’s not enough. Any donation that you could provide would be most greatly appreciated.
Organizer
Andrea Tews
Organizer
Chilton, WI