Dennis McDonald Medical Fund

My name is Valerie Baty-Belloma and I'm opening this fundraiser for my brother.

Tragedy fell on my brother Dennis McDonald recently when he entered the hospital for a simple heart catheterization through the groin. He had been through these before, so he expected a simple procedure and then go home. This one would change his life. The surgeon saved his life when a blow-out happened, but something went wrong during the procedure that caused massive blockages that were not found until later on. He continued to have no feeling in one third of his foot which began to turn black. Over the next few weeks, he's had several procedures through the same place in the groin to attempt to remove the blockages. He developed a very painful hematoma at the wound and his wound is not healing and set up infection. He spent a week in rehabilitation. A clean vac was put on the wound to pull stuff out of the wound and try to help it heal. Healing has been very difficult. While home getting ready to go to the hospital to go under anesthesia again to have his stitches removed from the wound his defibrillator went off three times delivering a dose of electric current to his heart. His wife called 911 and he was rushed to the nearest hospital. He was in Afib and found to have covid. The doctors said with all he has been through and then covid his heart just gave out. His defibrillator saved his life.

Dennis had both covid vaccines and the covid booster shot. He made it through covid, but his wound is still an issue. His wife Carrie also came down with covid after getting Dennis home. He is being seen by doctors and by a wound care specialist who is doing everything possible to get the wound to heal. Dennis is a diabetic so healing can be slow.

Dennis is my brother and my best friend. He's funny and always positive. He loves to go camping, fishing, hunting and spending time with is grandchildren. He's a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather and brother to seven of us. He is someone who doesn't want recognition and never expects anything in return.

Dennis is one to never ask for help. He is the one always helping and giving.

This fundraiser is to help Dennis and his family with his medical, rehabilitation and wound care expenses which continue to rise. His family needs to hire a healthcare person to care for him during the day while they are at work and to take him to appointments and wound care. His family has to take off work to do this. Even with insurance, the cost of being in ICU per day is very expensive, in addition to hospital stays, procedures, surgeons, rehabilitation and prescriptions. He has to have leg compressions to help with circulation. They were able to locate needed used equipment for $900. He also requires equipment for his legs that rents for $39 per day or $1,170 per month. It's believed this circulation will also help the wound to heal and relieve the pain. He is still in a lot of pain. We do not know how long his road to recovery will be or what his continued health care needs will be. Your donation will help greatly with these expenses and to get the help he needs.

Please help in giving back to someone who has selflessly given his time and efforts to so many. Please share this with everyone you know. Your help is greatly appreciated.