The Smiley's Medical Fund

Hi! First of all, I would personally like to take a second and thank you for looking into helping me with my "Medical Expense, Transportation and Cross Country Relocation Fund."  My name is Jon Smiley and I currently live in Cape Coral, Florida with my beautiful wife Monica, and our two amazing children, Drew, 8 and Callen, 3.  Asking for help like this is truly a "Last Resort" for us, and I do hope that even if you personally choose not to help, that you will share this with your friends, family and social media to help us reach our goal.  Here is my story...

                        Beginning during the spring of 2011, while working on Fort Myers Beach, FL, I began to experience frequent and severe sinus infections.  However, these infections lead to something much worse, Cluster Headaches, (Appropriately nicknamed "Suicide Headaches") and that was only the beginning.  After seeing Neurology Specialists it was determined that I would need to have a sinus surgery.  No big deal.  What no one saw coming was the post surgical infection that to this day still plagues my life. 

                        After seeing how quickly my health was deteriorating, my ENT made the call to send me to "The Sinus and Nasal Institute of Florida," (SNIFL for short) located in St. Petersburg, FL. SNIFL is home to some of the leading doctors in their field and Monica and I began traveling back and forth from Ft. Myers to St. Pete, which is a 2 hour drive, almost every single week for 2 years.    Working 6 days a week and traveling on the 7th for extremely invasive and painful treatments/cleanings took its toll on all of us physically, mentally and emotionally.   Simultaneously I began to develop serious lung issues that mimicked severe asthma, and became very reliant on inhalers, nebulizers and allergy/asthma medication that was prescribed by another leading doctor in his field, Immunology and Internal Medicine.  He too wasn't exactly close to home and the traveling continued.  In December of 2011 and June of 2012 I needed two more major sinus surgeries that included Balloon Sinoplasty, Turbinate Removal, Bone Scraping and removal, Polyp Removal and countless other procedures.  After each surgery, the same result would present itself; complete bacterial and fungal infection.   It was around this that the insanely high levels on prescripion steroids I had been on began to take their toll on my body.  I had begun to put weight on at an alarming rate and everything I tried to do to curtail the gains was met with lungs that just would not allow the levels of exercise that my body needed.  

                        The next stop for me was UF Health at The University of Florida, in Gainesville, FL.  Another long drive bi-weekly, if not weekly, this time in the form of 4 hours of travel each way.    In December of 2013 I had my forth surgery on my sinuses leaving me with not 8 individual sinus cavities, but 5 as they attempted to "open" everything up for better airflow and had the pleasure of having a PIC Line placed into my heart for 5 months.  The PIC line severely complicated my life and I was essentially forced into finding another line of work that was more conducive to my abilities at the time with the PIC.  My team of doctors felt confident that I was making progress and we removed the PIC line.  Yup, you guessed it, full blown infection within weeks.  I truly was not able to function without prescription steroids and was just miserable.  

                        My family and I not only contended with the above, but we were also trying anything and everything we could that might make a difference at home.  We changed mattresses 3 times (not cheap), added high end room air purifiers, personal steam vaporizer, Essential Oils, natural remedies, Apple Cider Vinegar, Sinus Rinses at the most extreme level, dietary changes and endless other attempts.  We also moved into 3 different homes, hoping that maybe I was being exposed to something we were unaware of.  I changed jobs 3 times, each time getting further from the water which was something very hard for me. 

                        Then, in early February of 2015, reality set in that I was in trouble.  I left work around 9:00pm on a Sunday night and while walking to my car in a dark, isolated and empty parking lot I had an asthma attack so severe that I was almost unable to dial "911." Never in my life have I been so scared.  I truly thought I was going to die in my car waiting on the medics to arrive.  Thankfully they managed to rush me to the ER in time and saved my life.  Three more rescue rides in 3 months and 3 hospitalizations have brought us to today. 

                        Doctors have found Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (PA) in my sinuses and Coronavirus (CV) in my lungs.  Normally, these are easily treatable.  However, with the high levels of antibiotics, antifungals and steroids that have been poured into my body over the last few years, my immune system is extremely suppressed and will make fighting this battle very difficult.  As I sit here in the Hospital writing this, I am planning the next leg of my journey. That journey is going to involve traveling to the National Jewish Hospital (NJH) in Denver, CO.  NJH has been the leading respiratory hospital in the country for 116 years and also specializes in immune and sinus related disorders.  Every finger is crossed and every prayer is being said that NJH is able to control my disorders and get me back on a healthy path.  Regardless of the outcome at NJH, doctors all agree that my body needs to reside in a much drier climate than Sub Tropical Florida.  We have our sights set on Arizona or Nevada and hope to move  during summer 2015 and start our lives over living an active and healthy lifestyle with our boys.  

                        I want to be very clear that I feel very fortunate that my issues are only as bad as they are.  I am forever grateful that I have had not to contend with something as overwhelming as cancer, loss of a limb or any of the many other more severe ailments.   This is the card I was dealt and it's the battle I have to fight.  I am currently out of work and unable to go back to work at this time do to my health.  Walking across the room is a chore and a struggle for me.  I would give anything to chase my 3 year old around and kick the soccer ball with my 8 year old, but that just isn't even feasible.  I just want the chance to be a healthy 30 year old.
  

                        Insurance has clearly helped over the years, but the co-pays, premiums, deductibles, travel, loss of work and other obstacles have wiped us out over time and there really is no end in sight at this point.  This is our Last Resort and we would greatly appreciate any financial help that you may be able to assist us with.   

                        From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.  Whether you choose to donate or not, that is up to you.  The fact that you took the time to hear my story means a lot in itself.   I'm a firm believer in "Paying it Forward" and I can assure you that once I am in a better position to do so, I will be doing my part to help others out in need.  Again, thank you.  #KCCO

Sincerely,

                        Jon Smiley
If it wasnt for Monica and my family I dont know where I would be.
Donuts with Daddy in the Hospital.
I was awake and not under any anethesia for my weekly appointments.
Fun with gloves in the hospital.
Shes always there for me.
Yup, those have all been all the way in my sinuses, while awake.
Not exactly small.
These boys have had to grow up in the doctors office.
Just a few small peices that were removed while fully awake and alert.

Major allergic reaction from one of the many mediations.

I sure was skinny when this all started.