For Maxwell, my Heart of Hearts

Around his 34th birthday in November 2018, my son, Maxwell Corrigan,  fell desperately ill.  It turned out that infection had completely ravaged his young heart.  Two of his valves had been virtually destroyed, as had a huge amount of his heart tissue.  His team of specialists meticulously  mapped out the most effective surgery, and, after eight gruelling  hours, felt they had successfully saved Maxwell’s heart.

Six weeks later, my son’s health once again deteriorated.  Even though his heart had a constant source of antibiotics flowing to it, the replaced valves had started to leak, and the infection had remained, lodged  deep within the heart’s tissue. The surgeons opened up my son’s chest for a second time, to repair the valves, and remove more of the infected tissue. Two extreme surgeries within weeks was a horrific stressor on my son’s heart. After the second operation in fact, his heart stopped beating. It took CPR, and three attempts with the paddles to get it started again.  As a result, Maxwell has ended up with a severe case of PTSD.

Since then, there have been constant trips back to the hospital for tests and appointments.  Due to his extremely fast metabolism, the doctors have been unable to equalize Max’s warfarin level, which is the drug used to stop his blood from clotting. This led to a small stroke, which has in turn, caused a bleed  within his brain.  Max was in hospital for an additional two weeks as a result.  The horrendous amount of antibiotics Maxwell was given has left him battling a condition very similar to C. Difficile, which affects the intestinal  system - and which can, in and of itself, be fatal.  He must eat pricey heart healthy food, as well as food that can hopefully get rid of his newly acquired anemia.
 
Maxwell has no income, being far too ill to return to work. His disability assistance has not yet been approved because the paperwork was lost somewhere between the hospital and Service Ontario. Even when it is, the amount will not be enough to sustain him.  I am thankful Maxwell has found the love of his life; however, her paycheque is not enough to support both of them, as well as her three young children.  My son loves those kids as if they were his own. The fact he will never be a father weighs heavily on his heart.

Max desperately needs dental work. The loss of a filling was the source through which the infection initially entered his blood and therefore his heart.  He cannot take any chances with further infections.  Dentistry is so expensive, and is not covered by Ontario’s health insurance program.  

The nightmare has not ended. My son’s heart continues to be destroyed, bit by bit, by that insidious infection. He is in end-stage kidney failure due to the 24 heart medications he must take twice a day.  The metal used to rope his chest back together after the open heart surgeries has started to break. There are two sharp broken pieces of the metal that are trying to break through his skin, causing incredible pain. 

In order that my son has some means of transportation during the day, we leased a small car for him to use.  I am afraid that neither of us can afford to continue with these payments.  I am living on my old age pension, which barely allows me to pay my own bills.

Maxwell has been given no more than a year to live.   He has no life insurance with which to pay for his final arrangements, and I don’t possess the funds to do so either.   Despite the efforts of several specialists, his prognosis is grim. That year is quickly ticking away.

UPDATE - NOVEMBER 2019

The year that my son was given is done. 
He has been so incredibly strong through his ordeal, but now, time and reality are conspiring against him.

Maxwell’s pacemaker has registered SIX major events where his heart stopped completely, and the pacemaker had to take over.   Six such events is virtually unheard of, and it speaks to how poorly his heart is faring.

Max’s doctors also found an Incarcerated Ventral Hernia. This has led to his intestine becoming trapped in a weak abdominal wall, and is cutting off its blood supply.  Soon, part of his intestine will begin to decay and die.  The pain is enormous.   What frightens me even more, are the three blood clots found in Maxwell’s leg.

With all these alarm bells,  the surgical team has decided my son will need a third open heart surgery as soon as feasible.  The hospital is currently doing pre-op biopsies, echocardiogram and bloodwork.  I cannot stress how much pain Maxwell lives with on a daily basis.

How Your Donations will be Used

I’m not sure how to break down the numbers down for you.  Maxwell needs help with food, clothing, dental care, drugs that aren’t fully covered by OHIP, and enough money to cover his car payments and gas (as well as mine, as I frequently drive Max to his hospital appointments.)   Sadly, the largest amount is needed for his final arrangements. . . . I would like to give my son at least a small funeral.

The other thing I’d love to do for Max, is to throw him one final whopping great party, with all his friends.  He - and  his friends - need a time to enjoy each other’s company one last time.

My first and greatest concern in life,  is to do everything I possibly can to make my son's remaining time as comfortable as possible.  And all I wish for is to cherish the  time I have left with my wonderful son,  providing him with a sense of dignity he so richly deserves.





POST SCRIPT

From a Mother’s point of view, I pray none of you reading this, ever have to watch as your child’s life deteriorates.  As my only child, and raising him primarily as a single parent, Maxwell and I have a strong and wonderful bond.  We have journeyed a difficult road together that could have broken that bond, but instead, it has only made us stronger. He is my everything!  I am on the verge of losing all that I own, and cannot bear the thought of losing my son as well. My inability to help him the way I would like, weighs heavily on me.

I am asking for your kindness during this very frightening time; and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping Maxwell with anything you are able to give.

Nothing and no one can ever replace him - Maxwell, my heart of hearts!