Desert Storm Vet Needs Your Help!
Update: Due to the condition of my dad, we've been informed that it must be a hospital to hospital transfer. Therefore, instead of a $5,000 deposit it needs to be a $20,000 deposit to just get in Mayo Clinic as inpatient for 4 to 5 days. This doesn't cover any tests or surgeries/procedures if necessary. His cardiac room in Mayo Clinic would cost $4,000 a day for just the regular cardiac unit. If he needs ICU it will be close to $10,000 a day. This cost is on a weekly basis. He was unable to be transferred to Mayo yesterday because the VA has denied covering any costs at this point and we didn't have enough funds to cover transfer, hospital admission as well as the many tests he will be required to take. Therefore, the plan is to see if he can get transferred to VA hospital and then have the VA transfer him to Mayo to help cover some of the costs. We thank everyone who has contributed to my dad's cause and thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. This has been a walk by faith not by sight experience. God is in complete control and we continue to trust in him.
Mark is a disabled Desert Storm Veteran. He has had over 17 angiograms and to date has 14 stents and a quadruple bypass. All of this has been done within the last 2 1/2 years, with no family history of heart disease. His doctors now state that they have done all they can for his aggressive heart disease and said he needs to be seen by the Mayo Clinic. He hasn't been able to work in over 2 years and his family not only is struggling emotionally but also financially. His aggressive heart disease has made it where he is not stable enough to travel without medical assistance.
What We need:
1. A flight or ambulance ride to Mayo Clinic from Illinois with nitro IV drip, heart monitor, and medical staff. The average price for this if insurance doesn't cover is $12,000.
2. A hotel room for family while at Mayo Clinic. Not sure of the price until we get there and figure out how long he will be admitted. Average is $65 a night.
3. Any and all financial assistance possible.
4. Prayers/help that the VA will cover his treatments. Mayo Clinic requests $5,000 up front to be seen.
5. If the VA doesn't cover the treatment he will need the financial assistance for that as well. Mayo Clinic requests $5,000 up front to be seen.
For Up to Date info on his journey, please visit his caring bridge website.
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/markdemaertelaere
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Hello Everyone!
My name is Ken Dibos, a friend and co-worker of Mark DeMaertelaere, who has unfortunately fallen on hard times, and I am trying to do whatever I can to see this very good person, family-man, and friend get some well-deserved help. Please read this story this can impact others lives especially Desert Storm Veterans past and present ,and if you are able, please help him!
Mark is a disabled veteran from Desert Storm where in the Navy he was stationed onboard the USS San Diego, with the Sixth Fleet in the Persian Gulf in 1991.
In 2001 he was diagnosed with gastrointestinal problems that were linked to the Gulf War Syndrome. Mark works with me in the Security Alarm business, and on January 18th he went to the hospital for what he thought was a pinched nerve, only to find out he had five blockages in his heart! They put in two stents then, and two more in February. Thinking all was OK, after two months he went back to work. However, after about four weeks while in cardio rehab, he had more complications, and was rushed to the hospital where they discovered major blockages that led to open heart surgery and a quadruple bypass! If that was not enough, while recovering from that and just about to go back to work, on June 15th he was having pain in his arm again, was rushed to Loyola Hospital where he had four more stents put in! He has continued to have issues and he now has 14 stents and a quadruple bypass with no history of heart disease in his family and within the period of 2 1/2 years. Doctors are now saying they've done all they can do and his best option is to be seen by Mayo Clinic. Then, just when you think things were as bad as they could get, he gets denied additional disability by the VA for his Cardio Vascular disease!
Mark provides for a family of six and has been the sole provider, and has only worked 7-weeks this year! He is also a praise singer at his church Bartlett UPC. He is a man of God and lives his life the way the Lord would want him to, but Mark could use some help to get back on his feet. Mark is a good person and does not deserve to be in this situation. Please help if you can! The main point is any and all veterans need to read this story I'm sure he is not alone afterall how many people do you know that have 8 stents and a quadruple bypass in 6 months time. It is a miracle he is alive only by the grace of God. For you it may be nothing, but for him it can help make a difference in his life.
Thank you for reading Please Pass this on !!!
Ken Dibos