Mike's Request for Heart Op

***A Request for Assistance***

Hello, my name is Michael Lamb and I have a heart condition called, *Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy*. I grew up on a farm in NC living a very healthy life. I never thought I would end up with a disease such as what I now have. I worked hard, went to college and had a very productive life, although with some challenges such as a failed marriage in 2004. By the end of 2006 at age 47 I remarried and we had purchased a house which needed renovating. Being a decent carpenter I thought it was a good buy while allowing us to remodel the home the way we wanted. All this was about to drastically change my life forever.

While working on our home I contracted a heart virus. Soon after I developed a severe flare-up of Ulcerative Colitis which required me to have an ostomy. Worse still, I became dehydrated right after the surgery which then severely damaged my kidneys, in essence burning out my kidneys

I am a happily married man, finding what everyone dreams about in a spouse, but I am afraid she got shorted in the deal, as I had not planned to skimp on my responsibilities as a spouse. I have always been one to work and to pull my own weight, but I now see firsthand, no man is an island. Truly the most depressing part of all, I can’t be all that I am supposed to be, especially compared to what I was.

As I stated, I was in decent health, especially my heart until I contracted an unknown heart virus that has almost destroyed my heart by 2009. I can still function with it but it is the associated heart problem that is causing my heart and health to deteriorate, and will continue to deteriorate until my heart gives out due to the increased pressures from this problem. I have an estimated survival time frame of app. 2 years. My passing from this will most likely be due to either a heart attack or stroke.

My associated problem from the viral infection I contracted is called *Mitral Valve Regurgitation*. This comes from the associated swelling from the left ventricle, which is where the viral infection took hold. This portion of my heart has swollen to the point that it has pushed my Mitral Valve out of position which results in much of my blood that is being pumped in my heart to actually push or fall back into that left vent after contraction due to the fact the mitral valve will no longer close. This causes a severe overload of my heart, making it work harder and harder, causing more stress on the heart, which in turn causes the heart to swell even more. A simple procedure called a *Mitral Valve Clip Procedure* will permanently fix this problem.

A majority of people needing any kind of Mitral Valve repair, not replacement will undergo this procedure in Europe and South America. I’ve written 2 congressmen concerning this over 2 months ago. I never got a reply. In Europe this procedure is roughly 80% successful with improvements to one's health, and has been performed there for app. 8 years. This procedure has not been approved by the FDA in the USA for Functional Mitral Valve Regurgitation which is what I have. Due to my deteriorating health I do not qualify for a more invasive open heart surgery.

Presently, I cannot in any way get the procedure I need for my heart done here in the US. Society's kindness in current healthcare programs, and the red tape from government and associated companies simply does not allow for the procedure I need until whenever they determine it acceptable.

 If I wish to try and extend my life I must go outside the uSA for treatment. I went to Duke Hospital several times, but on Feb 12, the Dr told me I needed the procedure, that I was a near perfect candidate for it. He would help me with my records and referrals if I found some place that would perform it, but it could not be done in the uSA. He said his hands were tied. I had already been looking over the internet for this procedure as I thought this would be the result from my last visit to Duke.

I have been accepted to receive the *Mitral Clip* for Functional Mitral Valve Regurgitation in Barcelona, Spain at the Hospital Quiron Teknon. The date will be sometime before the middle of April. A final date is waiting to be set depending upon a mutual agreed upon time. I have already applied for my passport, and I still must make travel arrangements.  I will not have anywhere near the 70-75k US dollars needed for a trip to another country and the operation. Therefore I am setting up a fund me account here at “www.gofundme.com” as well as using my PayPal account, which can be accessed from PayPal using my email address of [email redacted].

As I become more involved with the fund raising I will post more concerning donations as well as starting posting my experiences of my trip and procedure. You can also check my updates and ask other questions at my wife's FaceBook Wall, username Donna Lamb on FaceBook.

I sincerely thank everyone for any prayers and support.
Michael Lamb