Medical help and funeral expenses for Don
This one of my husbands good friends from work. Last year Don decided on a career change and went to truck driving school here in Missouri, he came here alone with his family in Vermont to better their lives. They spent a year seeing each other something like a week every six weeks. It was a tough transition for them, well five months ago they were finally able to move his wife and daughter here so they would be closer and see each other every weekend. Then three months ago Don got sick. I will let you read his story from his own writings.
**Beginning to Current Update**
As most of you know, I have been very sick. Most you don't know the serious details about it and that you can help prevent more people from my fate.
On September 6th 2020, I started a fever, body aches, and nausea. Since I was on the road working, I had to suffer through and do my job. On the road I got worse and worse and started having breathing problems. While driving home from the west coast, I really started to go down hill fast. I had to stop almost every 30 minutes to use the bathroom and I could only drive for maybe 4 hours per day. I finally made it home the evening of the 16th. It was then I began not being able to keep food down. I had my wife make a doctor's appointment for the 17th while I was on the road. I get to the doctor, unable to breathe, pale, weak, and sick. She took one look at me and sent me to the ER. At the ER the LPN asked a few questions, sent me for a chest Xray and diagnosed viral pneumonia. To be thorough, he also took a covid test. He then sent me home to recover. Covid came back negative, but continued to get worse. We decided that the hospital was my best bet so back to the ER. Another covid test, another negative, and I get my own room with plenty of antibiotics and medical professionals to make me better. I happen to be that patient who makes doctor's scratch their heads and rethink their life choices. My doctor says mercy st Louis has more specialists and tech. So, I took a little ride down to St Louis to try some of their accommodations. After a few days of getting worse I have a Bronchoscopy. That is, they stick stuff up my nose and down into my lungs. They took out many bits and goo and whatever else they were looking for. My lovely bride nursed me back from the sedative and then I waited for results. A day later, I'm told they did find covid in my Bronchoscopy. Off the the covid ward! All I hear in my head is 16th century surf's screaming "Leper! Leper! Leper!" They began the covid treatment and within 4 days I was feeling pretty good, though I still had one more day of treatment. After day five, I felt better. I was eating i was off of oxygen and I was ready to be home. After being checked over by several doctors, on October 6th, I was released home. After 12 days in the hospital, home is soooo good. However. After a few days fevers, and nausea, and breathing issues began to return. I stayed in contact with with my doctor daily and we tried many things. Some worked, some didn't, and some worked really well...until it ended. Finally on November 4th, my doctor says outpatient treatment isn't enough, and I need to go back to the hospital. Reluctantly, but determined, I was brought back to the ER. Another Xray and more tests revealed that I developed another pneumonia on top of my healing pneumonia. I'm just that good, yo. So I get my room back (yes I got the same room), and I start my conversation with my doctor saying let's get after this. We discussed many options, treatments, and possibilities. Then, we get to work. I submit my body to every test and poke and prod and violation the doctor can think of; regardless of pain or sickness. The first two days I spent throwing up, but I still made time for every test they needed. A few days and doc comes in and says I need to go back to st Louis where they have a bigger arsenal of tests, treatments, and specialists. So, I go for another ride in the back of a big bouncing ambulance, to my room in st Louis (no not the same room). New doc comes in and we have a very serious discussion about treatment and how nothing is off limits, I just need to get better. He says "well, everyone has been focusing on pneumonia and viruses, but what about your autoimmune disease? " Mental slap to the face. My Rheumatologist has constantly been checking my lungs because this autoimmune disease doesn't just kill muscles, attack joints, and attack organs; it can also cause skin problems and LUNG DISEASES. Including, but not limited to: pneumonia. So we are trying a new approach. Treat the pneumonia as if it is part of my autoimmune disease. If I remember correctly, getting part of the autoimmune disease under control was one of the worst pains I have ever had the joy of experiencing, and I have put a screwdriver through my hand. Anything to get over this and get home to my family is worth doing. I will beat this!
If you want to help people like me stay healthy, wash your hands, sneeze and cough in your elbow, stay home if you are sick. If you have any air born illnesses (flu, covid, cold, etc) stay home or wear a mask. Autoimmune effected people are immunosuppressive. You never know what germ can cause serious problems for us. Please be kind to my immunosuppressive people
After waiting for many tests, some from very special labs, the prognosis is that my autoimmune disease went from polymyositis to polymyositis AND interstitial lung disease. So now I have severe arthritis, muscle death, and pulmonary fibrosis. If we can't get the interstitial lung disease under control, the next step is a lung transplant. So fingers crossed that my chemo stops the lung damage and my body is able to heal the scar tissue. To anyone who wants to help, thoughts and prayers are all we ask. For those with the means, we have food, but bills are hard to pay. Again, please keep us in your prayers. These past 3 months have been very difficult.
God Bless you all.
