Lester's Keep the Dream Alive Fund
Donation protected
I've known Lester Jedynak since 1976 and he's the person I looked to, the one who kept me sane when I felt as if I would fly apart. He is my strength, and now I know how he was able to do it all these years. Not only was his strength evident as a Chicago Police Officer from 1982 to 2011, it was demonstrated in his life as a step-father to his daughter Shalimar, a husband, a friend, a brother, a son and as a man of prayer, devoted to God, the Eucharist, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. He wasn’t born that way, he evolved over many years of hard knocks, maintaining a sense of humor, taking life in stride, and accepting his fate through his faith in a power greater than he. He settled into retirement in Holland, Michigan and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings, friendly neighbors and hometown uniqueness. It was his dream destination and he was able to live that dream until now. I ask you now if you will please help keep Lester’s dream alive.
After nearly 40 years of marriage, I’ve come to realize; gained from Lester’s insight, that I have no control over anything, especially the Myelodysplastic Syndrome with which he was diagnosed in March, 2014. Lester underwent a stem cell transplant in December, 2014 and developed complications as a result experiencing horrific bouts of Chronic Graft vs. Host (cGVHD) disease which has affected his skin, eyes, lungs, and other organs. cGVH is running rampant and he finds his strength in prayer to endure the agonizing threat of one more thing going awry in his body. After a continued stay of over one year in various hospitals and a recent ICU admission due to a collapsed lung, he is receiving 24/7 home nursing care, and his medical team includes physicians, physical and speech therapists. He remains on a ventilator, a feeding tube and has extensive bedsores and is unable to see beyond a few feet. He still suffers from the damage due to complications from the cGVHD and all who know and love Lester are pulling out all the resources to help him survive this ordeal.
After one full year in hospital facilities, it was time to fight the battle to bring Lester home; our daughter Shalimar fought a battle to bring Lester home to his own familiar surroundings with 24 hour home nursing care despite the challenges we faced with insurance companies and the City of Chicago Benefits denying his much needed medical care because they did not consider his medical complexity. Finally, the squeaky wheel was silent and Lester came home to face new challenges.
During the ordeal of dealing with insurance companies, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Insurance Commission, procuring legal representation was necessary and now we are faced with exorbitant legal fees due to appealing medical denials. We have been faced with mounting medical expenses and fear we will be financially wiped out as we have pending hospitals bills exceeding one million dollars because of these denials. What will our future look like? Lester and I pray that God will guide us. We turn to our family and friends both in Holland and Chicago as well as our law enforcement family to ask for support and prayers. We are not accustomed to reaching out- we were always the ones helping and now it seems foreign to ask for help.
The most important thing now is that Lester's care continues as needed so that we can all see him smiling once again on his road to recovery.
God Bless you always! DEBORAH JEDYNAK
After nearly 40 years of marriage, I’ve come to realize; gained from Lester’s insight, that I have no control over anything, especially the Myelodysplastic Syndrome with which he was diagnosed in March, 2014. Lester underwent a stem cell transplant in December, 2014 and developed complications as a result experiencing horrific bouts of Chronic Graft vs. Host (cGVHD) disease which has affected his skin, eyes, lungs, and other organs. cGVH is running rampant and he finds his strength in prayer to endure the agonizing threat of one more thing going awry in his body. After a continued stay of over one year in various hospitals and a recent ICU admission due to a collapsed lung, he is receiving 24/7 home nursing care, and his medical team includes physicians, physical and speech therapists. He remains on a ventilator, a feeding tube and has extensive bedsores and is unable to see beyond a few feet. He still suffers from the damage due to complications from the cGVHD and all who know and love Lester are pulling out all the resources to help him survive this ordeal.
After one full year in hospital facilities, it was time to fight the battle to bring Lester home; our daughter Shalimar fought a battle to bring Lester home to his own familiar surroundings with 24 hour home nursing care despite the challenges we faced with insurance companies and the City of Chicago Benefits denying his much needed medical care because they did not consider his medical complexity. Finally, the squeaky wheel was silent and Lester came home to face new challenges.
During the ordeal of dealing with insurance companies, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Insurance Commission, procuring legal representation was necessary and now we are faced with exorbitant legal fees due to appealing medical denials. We have been faced with mounting medical expenses and fear we will be financially wiped out as we have pending hospitals bills exceeding one million dollars because of these denials. What will our future look like? Lester and I pray that God will guide us. We turn to our family and friends both in Holland and Chicago as well as our law enforcement family to ask for support and prayers. We are not accustomed to reaching out- we were always the ones helping and now it seems foreign to ask for help.
The most important thing now is that Lester's care continues as needed so that we can all see him smiling once again on his road to recovery.
God Bless you always! DEBORAH JEDYNAK
Organizer and beneficiary
Mi Fasola
Organizer
Holland, MI
Deborah Jedynak
Beneficiary
