Douglas Cooke Hospital Bills

DOUGLAS COOKE and family are in need of your help!
Doug survived a massive heart attack last Friday, January 31st, 2020 while at work. However, he is still in critical care at the Univ. of Tennessee hospital, currently with pneumonia. He is still on a ventilator as of this writing, and can not speak. But, he is able to communicate by nodding ‘yes’ and ‘no,’ when not sedated.

WHAT HAPPENED. [from the view of Troy Cooke, his youngest son]
Doug, my dad, called my mom on Friday, January 31st, and explained how he was having a difficult time breathing. She asked if he needed her to come get him, to take him to the hospital, but he told her that the fire truck had just arrived, so he had to let her go. Thankfully, earlier, one of his coworkers Michael had called 9-1-1 to notify them that they might need help (even though dad, at the time, was saying not to because it was “probably nothing.”)

From what my brother, and his coworkers said, dad was able to walk to the ambulance and tell them what was wrong, but as soon as he got inside the vehicle, he passed out. At that point the ambulance driver quickly ran to close the door, and they took off for what would be the Univ. of Tennessee hospital. I say “would be,” because at this point, none of the family was exactly sure on which hospital they were taking him to.

My mother, praying it was nothing too serious (since he was able to call her), explained to me what he said on the call, and said to be praying for him, but she had no idea what hospital it was going to be either, so she said she would call me when they found out so that I could head that way as well. When I called my mom to see if they had figured out the hospital, she said that he wasn’t at UT. They had no name of a Douglas Cooke being admitted. Apparently because he passed out, he was admitted as an alias instead, causing us more heartache because we couldn’t find him. By some miracle, my brother and mom finally found out that he was indeed at UT hospital, and were taken upstairs to the waiting room.

By the time I got to the hospital, I met my brother just as I walked in. He immediately took me outside and said with regret that he didn’t think dad was going to make it. He said this because apparently before I could even get there, the doctors had come in to talk with my mom and brother, and explained how dad still did not have a pulse after several minutes of shock and CPR. They were asking what we wanted them to do, and my brother said that they needed to get back in there! Thankfully, after some more time passed, they notified us that they had a heartbeat and that they would update us as soon as they could. This all happened around 2:30pm - 3:00pm and it wasn’t until later that evening that we finally got word that he was stable. Then, after more hours of waiting, we finally got word that he was in a room in the ICU, and that a few of the family could come visit him.

I say all of that because our family agrees that it was by the Grace and Mercy of JESUS Christ that he is even still alive today. Our dad was technically dead, but by the power of JESUS through the amazing doctors and nurses of UT hospital, our dad was given life again. We could not have endured this past week without the love and support of family, pastors and church family, friends, neighbors, the excellent staff of the Univ. Of Tenn hospital, and /or those of you who prayed on our behalf. But... we definitely still have a long road ahead since he is still in the ICU a week later.

WHY THE COOKE FAMILY IS ASKING FOR HELP
Douglas Cooke has spent his whole life helping others when possible. Whether as a truck driver, mechanic, neighbor; if he ever saw someone in need, and if he had the capability to help in any form, he would do so. Whenever storms came through and knocked over trees in the yards of neighbors, Doug would grab his chainsaw and quickly go to help. He loves people, and would never ask for help for himself; even when he was at the point of a massive heart attack. But, Doug was still working at the age of 64 because he still had a house payment and bills like the rest of us. Before this happened, he was able to get health insurance, but the insurance will not cover all of the expenses maintained, as well as the expenses that will continue since he is still in critical care.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
First and foremost, PRAYER! Regardless of life and all the bills that come with it, we believe that God has the ability to fully heal Doug through this situation, and we believe He will if we all come together in agreement through prayer.

Secondly, considering giving financially to help him until he is fully healed, to help with these hospital bills that will continue to mount up. Even just a little bit goes a long way. Proverbs 13:11 says “....whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” We believe that by working ourselves, and through the kindness and help of loved ones, that we can gather a little here and a little there to help with his needs, since we all have our own bills as well, and are not able to financially take on his bills alone.