John Steffenhagen is a 65 year old loving husband, awesome father of three, and an even greater grandfather of five. He is also a Vietnam veteran who served in the United States Air Force. He is one of the hardest working people I know. He never asks anyone for anything and would give you the shirt from his back. That is why I his daughter on behalf of our family ask for your help.
Last week after a visit to the doctors my father was sent to get a scan of his stomach and they had found an aneurism. Upon discovering that they sent him last Friday to get another scan of his upper body. Immediately Monday he received a phone call asking him to come to meet with the cardiac surgeon. They had found another aneurism.
I went along with my father to his appointment for moral support. I never expected to hear the devastating news that followed. The aneurism they found is the diameter of a soda can and is located in the aorta, the main valve of your heart. The doctor told him he needed a very complex open heart surgery. He will be under for at least 8 hours while they replace over 3/4 of his aorta with artificial lining. Surgery is needed as immediately as possible, but because of his rheumatoid arthritis he is on a medication that is making the doctors postpone surgery a few days longer than they would like. Surgery is the only reasonable option, without it the doctor said he would have less than a year to live. We need him here with us!!
The recovery time will be at least 2-3 months. Without help I am not sure how he will ever be able to be out of work for this recovery period and pay their bills. He works so hard and yet is still severely behind financially as it is. He doesn't have any savings, 401k, or supplemental income. He lives paycheck to paycheck. He probably will never be able to retire and still afford their mortgage. Their home suffers of disrepair. The roof leaks badly in the winter but they don't have the money to repair.
With this sudden emergency surgery coming up for him next week I am hoping that we can maybe help lesson some of his financial burdens coming up such as mortgage, heat, water, medical expenses, home repairs, and the basic costs of everyday living.
Thank you so much for any support you can provide to help a truly great man get back up on his feet!!
Last week after a visit to the doctors my father was sent to get a scan of his stomach and they had found an aneurism. Upon discovering that they sent him last Friday to get another scan of his upper body. Immediately Monday he received a phone call asking him to come to meet with the cardiac surgeon. They had found another aneurism.
I went along with my father to his appointment for moral support. I never expected to hear the devastating news that followed. The aneurism they found is the diameter of a soda can and is located in the aorta, the main valve of your heart. The doctor told him he needed a very complex open heart surgery. He will be under for at least 8 hours while they replace over 3/4 of his aorta with artificial lining. Surgery is needed as immediately as possible, but because of his rheumatoid arthritis he is on a medication that is making the doctors postpone surgery a few days longer than they would like. Surgery is the only reasonable option, without it the doctor said he would have less than a year to live. We need him here with us!!
The recovery time will be at least 2-3 months. Without help I am not sure how he will ever be able to be out of work for this recovery period and pay their bills. He works so hard and yet is still severely behind financially as it is. He doesn't have any savings, 401k, or supplemental income. He lives paycheck to paycheck. He probably will never be able to retire and still afford their mortgage. Their home suffers of disrepair. The roof leaks badly in the winter but they don't have the money to repair.
With this sudden emergency surgery coming up for him next week I am hoping that we can maybe help lesson some of his financial burdens coming up such as mortgage, heat, water, medical expenses, home repairs, and the basic costs of everyday living.
Thank you so much for any support you can provide to help a truly great man get back up on his feet!!
Organizer and beneficiary
John Steffenhagen
Beneficiary