Derrik Wyckoff

My husband was born with congenital heart defects including Coarcation of the Aorta and a Bicuspid Aortic Valve.  He underwent his first open heart repair as a child to repair the Coarctation.  In June 2018 he went in to his PCP for a cold, within a week he had an appointment with a cardiologist and within another week appointments with a cardiologist specializing in congenital heart disease.  Derrik was told his aorta was severely regurgitating which was compromising his heart function in addition to dangerously high  blood and immediately withheld from working.  His second open heart surgery occurred October 4, 2018 to repair the bicuspid aortic valve.  Unfortunately, two days later we were told the operation was unsuccessful.  The aorta is not only regurgitating but also is now stenotic.  The most up to date plan will be cardiac rehabilitation in two weeks and physical therapy at 6 weeks postoperatively.  But with the new diagnosis we are unsure of the future.

This surgery has been very difficult on Derrik as well as our little family.  We will be meeting with the congenital cardiologist and surgeon this next week to discuss Derrik’s future outlook. 

With Derrik being out of work it has been an exceptional financial strain on our family.  Of course with the unexepected turn of events over the last 4 months we were no way anticipating him being out of work at all and definitely not for 6 months and the very real lingering possibility of a third open heart procedure.  We are creating this gofundme ourselves to aid in the upcoming months of Derrik’s postoperative course.