Crist's Big Heart Could Use Some Help
My name is Lynn Nelson and I am asking for your help to raise money in support of my dear and much beloved friend Crist Ballas to assist him with
some of the medical costs he incurred during a recent and unexpected week long hospital stay.
Early this month Crist learned that he has been living with heart failure and shortly
after returning home from the hospital he was informed that he will not qualify for his union medical insurance due to lack of hours in 2020.
We are anticipating the hospital bill at this time to be well over $100K and there will be continued visits, tests and medication charges going
forward.
The Longer Story:
On Sunday January 3rd Crist was admitted to HCMC after going to the
emergency room at the urging of his partner Stephanie and two of his closest
friends(me and Suzy Schaak). Crist had been experiencing shortness of breath
and having some difficulty sleeping since recovering from COVID in March, but
by the end of December his symptoms were worsening and he was having a
harder time breathing and it was keeping him up most nights.
Upon his arrival at HCMC his BP was 202/132 and his heart was working
overtime and his initial X-ray indicated that there was excess fluid in his lungs
making it very difficult for him to breath.
Days 1 -2: The team at HCMC began to work to reduce fluids and
lower his blood pressure to get him regulated so that they could perform
additional diagnostics.
Day 3: An echocardiogram was completed which showed irregularities in his heart rhythms and
circulation as well as a complete blockage of a main artery and the
possibility of past heart attacks.
Days 4-5: Additional regulating and preparing for an MRI
Day 6: Crist had an MRI which showed (to the surprise of no one who
knows this Man) that his heart had been trying to repair itself! It had begun building new pathways/blood vessels. This condition will need to be
monitored to determine if a stint will be required in the future to ensure better heart function going forward.
Day 7: Crist was discharged from the hospital and sent home with 8
medications and feeling ready to adopt recommended and desired lifestyle changes. He
is now back home and feeling better as he is now enjoying full nights of sleep and is regaining his strength.
Considering what Crist has been through, he is doing remarkably well.
He is immensely grateful for the outpouring of love and support that he has
received from both family and friends, this presence has been felt deeply by Crist and has inspired him during his continued recovery.
Any contribution that you are able to give to help our beautiful and generous
Crist would be greatly appreciated as he continues his treatment. To know Crist
is to love him and we would all like to be able to know and love him for as long as
possible. We would very much like to see the sequel to "The Heart That Repaired Itself". 
