Roger Barnett's Home Health Needs

My name is Brenda, Rogers wife Ginger and I were friends growing up. I am just a friend trying to help a friend. Her husband is in really bad shape and they desperately need some help. Here is what she wrote telling me what happened…On the morning of March 14 I found Roger unresponsive. I called 911 after several attempts to get him to respond. EMT's arrived and transported him to BJC in Sullivan Mo. They did their assesment and told me that he needed more advanced care then they could provide , so he would be transferred to Missouri Baptist in Stl. He was admitted in the the ICU were it was derermined that he was septic and had double pneumonia, shortly after he went into acute respiratory failure and was put on life support. He had to be on a ventilator for over 2 weeks. They told me they couldn't pin point the location of the infection, but after some swelling and areas turning black, like bruising, they did a catscan and discovered on March 30 he had Fourniers Gangrene and he was rushed in for emergency surgery. Fourniers is a rare type of gangrene and the survival rate is low , it is a very invasive bacteria, that spreads quickly and does major tissue damage. He has has 4 very extensive debridement surgeries to remove necrotic tissue. He will however, require several more surgeries before this nightmare is hopefully over. Roger has been chronically ill for several years now and he has fought over and over just to have some quality of life. He's had 2 heart attacks ,has end stage kidney failure and his heart is only working at about 30%. He has lost all mobility on lower extremities, has short term memory loss, speech impairment and he is confused and depressed. We had been getting at home dialysis set up and after 2 more trainings treatments, then i will be allowed to administrative his treatments at home. We feel that it will be less of a strain on him and safer also. The hospital has suggested that he be put in a long term rehab home, in which I told them no , that's not an option. I promised him years ago that I would never put him in a nursing home and as long as i have air in my lungs I will hold to that promise. I have most of the durable medical equipment that he will require except for a couple items .

He has been in here 34 days and still counting. I have driven up here to be with him each day , unfortunately with a average cost of 45-50.00 each day, between gas and food/drink/ parking my funds are running out. I havent been able to work but maybe 2 or 3 hours since this all started. Our saving is gone. I've exhausted all our other resources.

Physical therapy and home health will have to come in, I will need a ramp built to get him in and out of house. We will also need to hire a aide to help when I have to leave for errands or for work. I cant do this alone. Please please help me honor my promise. He is a good man and he dont deserve any of this . If i could switch places l would without any hesitation. Any amount is greatly appreciated and I truly Thank you to those who have helped.