We Believe In Steve
Donation protected
On March 7th, 2016, Linda came home from working at Sandcastle Clinical to find Steve in severe pain. This led to his first surgery on March 9th, 2016 for acute necrotizing pancreatitis and the beginning of the life threatening journey he has been on since, which now includes 15 surgical procedures done on his abdomen, 7 of which were seriously complicated, 5 plus hour surgeries.When Steve had his first surgery for acute necrotizing pancreatitis over two years ago, they removed all of his large intestines except for the sigmoid colon, and more than half his pancreas. This is where his initial ostomy was located and from which the majority of issues are stemming.
Since his surgery in January of 2018, where they reconstructed his whole abdominal wall and reconnected his sigmoid to his bowels, he has had one complication after another.
Currently, what he has left for a large intestine (which is a very small amount) has now completely stopped working on its own, and is now considered a Chronic Colonic Ileus; it is so swollen and damaged that it doesn't work anymore. In the last month, he has had several operations and procedures to get it working naturally again as well as try to contain the persistent infection. Unfortunately, none of this has helped nor changed the illness and his most recent surgery wound is not healing properly.
Steve can no longer have any food orally and can only sip liquids as needed to take medications. He is now completely reliant on nutrition through an IV port. He is also still battling a very serious abdominal infection and no longer responds to regular antibiotics. Through mid-November, he’ll need daily infusion therapy at CMMC with one of the strongest antibiotics available and IV nutrition only.
This has become a chronic very dangerous illness for him; his health care team has no idea on how long this may last or if they will be able to resolve it at all. Doctors and specialists all agree that any further surgeries at this point should be avoided, as the risks far outweigh the course of treatment.
As you can probably guess, this has taken a serious toll on Steve not only physically but mentally as well. And of course, it’s taking a toll on his entire family. Linda hasn’t worked for months as she now is a full time caregiver and must be at his side at all times.
From Linda’s recent Facebook post, “we are forever grateful for all the support and prayers you have been giving us and ask once again to keep praying and sending the positive vibes as we need them now just as much as we did when he was first in ICU fighting for his life. He is fighting hard once again, but it has become harder and harder on his body as this has gone on (and it is) more challenging for his surgeons and other doctors. We were told yesterday what he is going through is rare and beyond complicated to … fix”.
It’s highly probable Steve will likely never work again. Linda is out of work for an indefinite amount of time. Medical insurances have changed requiring substantial co-pay for his dozens of medications and treatments. Most of us are one health crisis away from losing everything we work so hard for—that’s where Steve and Linda are at. They desperately need our help.
Steve and Linda are AMAZING people—who have helped a lot of other people—can you help them now? Any amount you can give is OK—it all adds up to meet the needs. Please consider helping Linda and Steve.
Since his surgery in January of 2018, where they reconstructed his whole abdominal wall and reconnected his sigmoid to his bowels, he has had one complication after another.
Currently, what he has left for a large intestine (which is a very small amount) has now completely stopped working on its own, and is now considered a Chronic Colonic Ileus; it is so swollen and damaged that it doesn't work anymore. In the last month, he has had several operations and procedures to get it working naturally again as well as try to contain the persistent infection. Unfortunately, none of this has helped nor changed the illness and his most recent surgery wound is not healing properly.
Steve can no longer have any food orally and can only sip liquids as needed to take medications. He is now completely reliant on nutrition through an IV port. He is also still battling a very serious abdominal infection and no longer responds to regular antibiotics. Through mid-November, he’ll need daily infusion therapy at CMMC with one of the strongest antibiotics available and IV nutrition only.
This has become a chronic very dangerous illness for him; his health care team has no idea on how long this may last or if they will be able to resolve it at all. Doctors and specialists all agree that any further surgeries at this point should be avoided, as the risks far outweigh the course of treatment.
As you can probably guess, this has taken a serious toll on Steve not only physically but mentally as well. And of course, it’s taking a toll on his entire family. Linda hasn’t worked for months as she now is a full time caregiver and must be at his side at all times.
From Linda’s recent Facebook post, “we are forever grateful for all the support and prayers you have been giving us and ask once again to keep praying and sending the positive vibes as we need them now just as much as we did when he was first in ICU fighting for his life. He is fighting hard once again, but it has become harder and harder on his body as this has gone on (and it is) more challenging for his surgeons and other doctors. We were told yesterday what he is going through is rare and beyond complicated to … fix”.
It’s highly probable Steve will likely never work again. Linda is out of work for an indefinite amount of time. Medical insurances have changed requiring substantial co-pay for his dozens of medications and treatments. Most of us are one health crisis away from losing everything we work so hard for—that’s where Steve and Linda are at. They desperately need our help.
Steve and Linda are AMAZING people—who have helped a lot of other people—can you help them now? Any amount you can give is OK—it all adds up to meet the needs. Please consider helping Linda and Steve.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sandy Marquis
Organizer
Lewiston, ME
Linda Scott
Beneficiary
