Devin Johanningsmeier Hospital Bill
Donation protected
I have started this GoFundMe campaign on behalf of my sister and brother-in-law, Amber and Michael Messatzzia, and my nephew, Devin Johanningsmeier, to help with unexpected medical bills.
L-R: Devin, his best friend, Robert, and his brother, Aaron, at the skate park about a week before becoming sick.
Seventeen year old Devin had been sick for a few days but was feeling well enough on the afternoon of October 7 to accompany his brother to a friend’s house. He was still feeling a little nauseous but the visit was uneventful until approximately 6 PM when Devin started having a seizure. After attempting to call 911, the other two boys decided to drive him to the Emergency Room themselves.
Devin in the Emergency Room at our local hospital.
The staff at our small rural hospital began the process of determining what had caused the seizure. After numerous different tests, including a CT Scan and spinal tap, it was determined that Devin would require a higher level of care than they were equipped to provide so they contacted UC Davis Children’s Hospital. A helicopter staffed with a neurological team was dispatched to transport him by air to Davis. The flight only lasted about 20 minutes but Devin’s parents had to make the 1.5 hour drive by car.
Devin in the ICU with all of his equipment.
The first several days were spent in the Pediatric ICU. Devin needed to be sedated so he was placed on a ventilator. There were multiple IVs and tubes connected to his body. His thick, red curls were shaved off to allow proper fit for an EEG cap. Specialists ordered numerous tests and pumped his veins full of medications that might or might not be effective. Tensions ran high and so did his fever. His parents barely left the room for bathroom breaks and meals.
Eventually, he was diagnosed with viral meningitis. Friends, family members and hospital staff anxiously awaited signs that Devin would be OK. No one was sure how much damage his body may have suffered and the list of possible complications was intimidating to say the least.
Mom watched him like a hawk and was the first to notice his eyes moving in response to sounds. Then, during an eye exam, Devin was able to keep his eyes open for the doctor performing the tests. The first flutter of eyelids led to the first eye contact with his parents. It wasn’t much but it was hope. Doctors weaned him from the sedatives. He was able to smile at Mom and Dad around his ventilator tubing and nod his head yes at a few questions asked to him by the nurses before drifting back to sleep.
Within a few days, he was off of the ventilator and able to be moved to a regular pediatric floor. He was weak and tired but it didn’t seem that there had been any permanent damage. Still, any type of exertion wore him out and he slept for 6 hours after his physical therapist took him for a short walk around the hospital floor.
Ready to go home.
Devin was released to go home a week after his initial seizure. He is on anti-seizure medication which makes him extremely tired. His body and brain are still recovering from the trauma of what happened to him so that makes him tired as well and at times he is still finding it difficult to concentrate or remember things. Devin is a senior and is scheduled to graduate in June 2017. His mom, who also happens to be a teacher, has made arrangements for him to be on Home Study so he can keep up with his classmates and be able to graduate at the end of the school year.
Devin at home with a care package from his awesome classmates.
As you can imagine, the family has amassed huge medical bills due to this unexpected event. Not only are there the fees for services already rendered but there will continue to be follow up visits, tests, and lab work until Devin’s doctors have declared him to be fully recovered.
The immediate use for this money will be for expenses already incurred. Any amount over that will be held for co-pays, etc. on his follow up care.
Make sure to check out the three different Reward Levels based on your donation amount:
-$50 (or more) donations receive a hand written Thank You Note from Devin and his family.
-$250 donations receive a Hand Crafted Tote Bag (limited to first 5 donations in this amount)
-$500 donations receive a Hand Knit Hat (limited to first 5 donations in this amount)
L-R: Devin, his best friend, Robert, and his brother, Aaron, at the skate park about a week before becoming sick.Seventeen year old Devin had been sick for a few days but was feeling well enough on the afternoon of October 7 to accompany his brother to a friend’s house. He was still feeling a little nauseous but the visit was uneventful until approximately 6 PM when Devin started having a seizure. After attempting to call 911, the other two boys decided to drive him to the Emergency Room themselves.
Devin in the Emergency Room at our local hospital.The staff at our small rural hospital began the process of determining what had caused the seizure. After numerous different tests, including a CT Scan and spinal tap, it was determined that Devin would require a higher level of care than they were equipped to provide so they contacted UC Davis Children’s Hospital. A helicopter staffed with a neurological team was dispatched to transport him by air to Davis. The flight only lasted about 20 minutes but Devin’s parents had to make the 1.5 hour drive by car.
Devin in the ICU with all of his equipment.The first several days were spent in the Pediatric ICU. Devin needed to be sedated so he was placed on a ventilator. There were multiple IVs and tubes connected to his body. His thick, red curls were shaved off to allow proper fit for an EEG cap. Specialists ordered numerous tests and pumped his veins full of medications that might or might not be effective. Tensions ran high and so did his fever. His parents barely left the room for bathroom breaks and meals.
Eventually, he was diagnosed with viral meningitis. Friends, family members and hospital staff anxiously awaited signs that Devin would be OK. No one was sure how much damage his body may have suffered and the list of possible complications was intimidating to say the least.
Mom watched him like a hawk and was the first to notice his eyes moving in response to sounds. Then, during an eye exam, Devin was able to keep his eyes open for the doctor performing the tests. The first flutter of eyelids led to the first eye contact with his parents. It wasn’t much but it was hope. Doctors weaned him from the sedatives. He was able to smile at Mom and Dad around his ventilator tubing and nod his head yes at a few questions asked to him by the nurses before drifting back to sleep.
Within a few days, he was off of the ventilator and able to be moved to a regular pediatric floor. He was weak and tired but it didn’t seem that there had been any permanent damage. Still, any type of exertion wore him out and he slept for 6 hours after his physical therapist took him for a short walk around the hospital floor.
Ready to go home.Devin was released to go home a week after his initial seizure. He is on anti-seizure medication which makes him extremely tired. His body and brain are still recovering from the trauma of what happened to him so that makes him tired as well and at times he is still finding it difficult to concentrate or remember things. Devin is a senior and is scheduled to graduate in June 2017. His mom, who also happens to be a teacher, has made arrangements for him to be on Home Study so he can keep up with his classmates and be able to graduate at the end of the school year.
Devin at home with a care package from his awesome classmates.As you can imagine, the family has amassed huge medical bills due to this unexpected event. Not only are there the fees for services already rendered but there will continue to be follow up visits, tests, and lab work until Devin’s doctors have declared him to be fully recovered.
The immediate use for this money will be for expenses already incurred. Any amount over that will be held for co-pays, etc. on his follow up care.
Make sure to check out the three different Reward Levels based on your donation amount:
-$50 (or more) donations receive a hand written Thank You Note from Devin and his family.
-$250 donations receive a Hand Crafted Tote Bag (limited to first 5 donations in this amount)
-$500 donations receive a Hand Knit Hat (limited to first 5 donations in this amount)
Organizer and beneficiary
Shannon Garnett
Organizer
Willows, CA
Amber Messatzzia
Beneficiary