Medical Bills and Medications

Hi, My name is Lisa Martin.

I am setting up this GoFundMe on behalf of Mark Jackson to request your help in offsetting medical bills and life-sustaining medications. If you know Mark, you know he is not great at asking for or accepting assistance when in need but will always lend a hand to a friend or stranger. I have grown to love Mark dearly and can't imagine life without him.

On September 7th, after having a series of seizures, Mark was rushed to Southern Maryland hospital with cardiac and resperatory distress. The initial tests indicated significant pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in his lungs). The clots were causing severe respiratory distress and cardiac distress (not full-blown heart attack) but led to the seizures. He was immediately taken by helicopter to an emergency vascular unit at Washington Hospital Center to undergo pulmonary embolization - They removed more than a dozen clots from both lungs. He came through the surgery like a champ and was in ICU until early Friday morning, after which he was moved to a standard room before being discharged later that same day - No doubt because he is uninsured. According to the doctors, the window for his positive outcome was very small, and we were fortunate!

They have not found any apparent cause of such sudden and significant clotting. He does have a family history, but doctors felt that he should have had issues before if family history is to blame. He did have COVID early this year, and blood clots are a known side effect of COVID, so that is one theory. Either way, he will need blood thinners for the rest of his life (with no insurance, his medication alone is $650 for a 30-day supply) and has many follow-up doctor visits to identify potential causes.

He will have at least two weeks of being unable to perform any strenuous work - and currently relies on electrical, automotive and construction side jobs for income, many that require climbing ladders, heavy lifting, etc. All of which he is restricted from for the time being. We are working with the hospital to apply for any medical assistance, Medicaid benefits, etc., but it is a slow process dealing with the government.

Again, those who know Mark know he is always willing to support others in any way he can! We all fall on hard times and would greatly appreciate any contributions you can provide.