Support For Nick and Rose

Nick and Rose Avitable live in Kalamazoo, MI, with their three year old daughter Ellie and will soon be joined by a brand new addition (a baby boy!).

Nick suddenly fell ill on Monday morning (Nov. 30), complaining of nausea and severe dizziness. He nearly fainted, and as Rose attempted to catch him, she fell and broke her arm. She was immediately taken to the hospital for surgery and her mother stayed behind to look after Nick and Ellie.

Not long after, Rhonda went in to check on Nick and found him unresponsive and covered in vomit. He was rushed to the hospital by ambulance where he was placed on a ventilator and ruled to be in critical condition. After several tests, the doctors determined that Nick was suffering the effects of a rhinovirus interacting with his Crohn's disease. His antibodies attacked his red blood cells, severely depleting them and causing kidney and liver damage. The doctors then suggested that Nick's parents, who live out of state, be called immediately.

On December 1st, Nick's condition improved slightly, and he was moved to stable condition. He is still heavily sedated and being treated with antibiotics. His liver and kidney function is very low, and he will certainly need to undergo dialysis. The next step is to run more blood tests and evaluate brain function. 

**UPDATE**

On December 3rd, Nick underwent a surgery to remove his spleen in an attempt to stop the severe depletion of his red blood cells. The risky surgery went well, and his status was ruled stable. Unfortunately, the following afternoon, his health took a sudden turn for the worst. His vital signs crashed, and despite attempts to resuscitate him, Nick passed away on December 4th at 1:30 p.m. Rose was by his side.

Prayers  are certainly welcomed and appreciated.

We are also asking that any friends, relatives, fellow believers, and even generous strangers would consider lending support to this precious family in their time of distress. There will no doubt be medical expenses above and beyond insurance coverage. Nick was also the sole provider for the family, which means there will be no income for an indeterminate amount of time. It is impossible to overstate the magnitude of this need.

Any amount of support would be a great blessing. The term "to bless" literally means "to add strength to another's arm." Would you consider coming alongside this family, not to offer a handout, but to link arms and offer strength as they get back up and keep moving forward?

Thank you so much for taking the time. God bless!