
Need some help
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My dear old friend and husband, Sean Frackowiak, became disabled and unable to work in the fall of 2015. Since then, he has been fighting for the social security benefits he is legally entitled to. His first application was denied through a federal court in Austin two years ago. He is awaiting word on a hearing date for his current application. For nearly 4 years, I have struggled to provide for all of our living and medical expenses. I was holding things together through hard work and sheer grit until we learned this February that Sean had an aortic aneurysm. He has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting connective tissue. The syndrome responsible for his spinal and hip degeneration caused a weakening of his aorta walls. The day before he was scheduled for surgery, his medical team discovered a second aneurysm in the aorta. He underwent open heart surgery on June 13th. There were major complications in surgery which resulted in him needing a coronary bypass. The anticipated surgery time of 5-6 hours stretched to 8 1/2 hours, with the last two hours spent controlling bleeding from the aortic repair sites. The head surgeon told me that night that if Sean survived the first 48 hours post-surgery, he could probably recover. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed and scared. In the days that followed in the ICU, Sean experienced multiple complications due to having been anesthetized for so long. His liver was damaged, causing 60+ hours of delirium. I was with him at the hospital every day and have never been so scared in my life. Finally, Sean recovered enough to come home. His projected 5 days in the hospital had turned into 12.
Now that Sean is home, I am his sole caregiver. Our health insurance has no coverage for at home care. I’ve never cared for a person recovering from open heart surgery before, but am managing fairly well considering. Sean had his first trip out of the house last week when I took him to see his cardiologist in Austin. Over the next many weeks, I will be transporting him to appointments with the cardiologist, the cardiothoracic surgeon, the pain care doctor, and the cardiac physical therapist. Sean is getting a little stronger with each passing day, but is still quite diminished. He is winded and in extraordinary pain. Until his sternum heals, he is sleeping in a recliner, which is very hard on his damaged spine.
We have always lived frugally, but even so, with my ability to generate additional income impacted by these responsibilities and utter exhaustion , I am coming up short of funds to cover the mortgage and utility bills.
Once Sean is back on his feet this fall, I will once again be able to make enough income to support us both. I’m asking for help now to get us through the summer.
Thank you for any support you can give. Everything helps.
Now that Sean is home, I am his sole caregiver. Our health insurance has no coverage for at home care. I’ve never cared for a person recovering from open heart surgery before, but am managing fairly well considering. Sean had his first trip out of the house last week when I took him to see his cardiologist in Austin. Over the next many weeks, I will be transporting him to appointments with the cardiologist, the cardiothoracic surgeon, the pain care doctor, and the cardiac physical therapist. Sean is getting a little stronger with each passing day, but is still quite diminished. He is winded and in extraordinary pain. Until his sternum heals, he is sleeping in a recliner, which is very hard on his damaged spine.
We have always lived frugally, but even so, with my ability to generate additional income impacted by these responsibilities and utter exhaustion , I am coming up short of funds to cover the mortgage and utility bills.
Once Sean is back on his feet this fall, I will once again be able to make enough income to support us both. I’m asking for help now to get us through the summer.
Thank you for any support you can give. Everything helps.
Organizer
Lisa Frackowiak
Organizer
Smithville, TX