Support For Mickey’s Open Heart Surgery Journey

LIFE CAN CHANGE IN A HEARTBEAT

From: Fit as a Fiddle, to Emergency Open Heart Surgery

Dearest Friends,

Mickey Holowach, known to all as a strong, adventurous fun-loving soul, a hardworking landscape foreman and a man who doesn’t just walk to the beat of his own drum…he dances his heart out to it. Mickey was living his Best Life with an Unknown FATAL Heart Condition. In essence, his heart was attached to a ticking time bomb; ready to explode.

On May 9th, 2023, Mickey received the devastating news that he needed Open Heart Surgery to save his life. For those of you who don’t know the details of his recent journey, this is Mickey’s story:

When Mickey and his life partner Marissa lost their close friend, Alex Moss, to a sudden heart attack this past October 2022, Marissa urged Mickey to see his doctor for a wellness visit. His family has a history of heart disease. Mickey felt healthy, but after a series of tests, scans and other appointments, Mickey received a devastating diagnosis:

Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Measuring 5.0 cm, with a Dissection Flap.

Most people with this condition don’t live to see the inside of an operating room.

Mickey was Very Lucky! He was immediately placed on bed rest, instructed to stop working and prepare for open heart surgery. In order to secure his surgical date, he needed a few medical tests and clearances.

Unfortunately, Mickey hit a major roadblock and needed to have a separate extensive and expensive dental procedure in preparation which wound up delaying the open heart surgery for over a month. Once Mickey heals from his open heart surgery, he will need to follow up with several other costly dental procedures and he does not have dental insurance.

Mickey hasn’t been able to work since mid-May and it will be many months before he can return to the landscaping business where he has worked for nearly 40 years. Marissa, his main caregiver, has been trying to squeeze in time to work as she helps Mickey navigate through this crisis, but she will not be able to work many hours, particularly in the first few months of recovery. Between medical and dental expenses, rent, insurance, and life’s basic necessities, we fear that the financial burden will become insurmountable.

I am so happy to say that Mickey’s Surgery on June 20th, 2023 was a HUGE SUCCESS!

He still has a long road to recovery ahead of him…..inability to drive for 6 weeks, he can’t lift more than 5lbs for 8 weeks, months of healing, physical therapy, cardiac rehabilitation outpatient therapy, implementing a new and healthy diet plan…..

This whole experience has made us all realize how important it is to take care of ourselves so we can continue to let the good times roll.

Let’s be an Inspiration to our dear friend Mickey and together we can help

“MOVE HIM BRIGHTLY”