Mouse Goddard needs your help!
Donation protected
We, the friends and family of “Mouse” James Goddard, hope you can help us end this difficult journey and bring him back to good health!
Mouse was diagnosed in 2015 with acute diverticulitis, having never had any major illnesses in his life and otherwise being in very good health. Following diagnosis up until late 2018, he suffered severe bouts of diverticulitis “flare-ups”, including high fevers, ongoing crippling abdominal pains, and deteriorating gut function. These were treated with antibiotics and gut health supplements.
In late 2018, his health deteriorated rapidly. Using CT imaging, a colo-vesical fistula was found – a joining of his sigmoid colon to his bladder - which required emergency, major abdominal surgery. In January 2019, his sigmoid colon was removed and the holes in his bladder repaired. Tissue sample pathology results confirmed diverticulitis; but noted no other prevalent features at the time.
Over the following months James suffered recurring discomfort in his abdomen and left side of his lower back, low grade fevers and occasional severe, painful cramping.
In August 2019, his health again began to deteriorate, and his doctor realised an intra-abdominal abscess at the site of his original surgery. On September 5th 2019, a drainage tube was inserted to drain the abscess which remained in place for a few days. By September 9th, Mouse’s appetite had diminished (those who know him would understand the severity of a lost appetite!) and he had severe discomfort in his abdomen, nausea, some intermittent vomiting, and other symptoms of a deteriorating bowel. Over the course of about 2 weeks, he went from normal bowel function, to dramatic deterioration, to no function at all. He lost 35 pounds over this period and faded to a pale shade of grey skin and bones. The cause was a totally obstructed colon.
Emergency surgery was performed on September 25th and the obstruction was found to be at the site of the original procedure in January. An entero-enteric fistula also connected the large and small intestines. The affected tissue was removed and sent for pathology testing both in Barbados and the USA, and reports noted that there were some features of Crohn’s disease – however these were inconclusive!
Due to his stage of malnourishment by this time, the lower part of James’ wound opened, and he developed a visible surgical hernia inside the wound.
About 5 weeks after his second surgery, James again developed high fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, light-headedness, weakness and pale hands and feet. He was sent back to emergency and placed on a saline drip. The following day, James was again admitted to hospital with extremely high fever and pressure in the lower left side of his back.
On October 30th, tests confirmed a totally blocked left ureter (tube between kidney and bladder) with sepsis (potentially life-threatening infection of his blood). It was necessary for an emergency procedure to place a drain (nephrostomy) into his left kidney after attempts to clear the obstruction were unsuccessful. This was again found to be near the site of the original surgery and related to adhesions – scar tissue obstructing the tube between left kidney and bladder. A second tube to drain the infection in a capsule which surrounded the kidney also had to be placed. Nonetheless, his doctor advised that his colon appeared to be healing well.
A week later, James returned home from the hospital and showed good signs of improvement. His appetite returned and he gradually started to go about his life as well as the existing drains and wounds permitted.
Plans were set in motion for a final procedure to put humpty back together again.
On visiting the USA in January 2020, he rapidly took ill again with the identical symptoms and, on admission through emergency in Broward, showed he had a fever of 105° F again and was indeed severely septic. A course of heavy antibiotics and other treatments cleared James to travel home to Barbados to have what we hoped would be his final surgery.
This surgery was completed in March 2020 to reconnect his colon and close the stoma, remove the drains, repair his blocked ureter, repair the hernia, and remove any scar tissue and adhesions surrounding the wound. In the weeks following, he also had a drain placed through his abdomen to clear a small collection of fluid.
Following several weeks of some expected bladder and bowel leakage and agonising stent pains among other expected aches and pains, Mouse began to experience terrible pain and swelling around his pelvic area along with fever and general lack of energy. Within a day or two, a hole opened to the surface of the skin in the same area that was producing air, infected debris, and other debris from the gastrointestinal tract. A few weeks later, another similar hole opened to the surface right above the existing one.
He has been on antibiotics since March 2020 and fighting ongoing infection. This has been kept under some control, but due to his repeated use, there is a fear that they continue to lose effectiveness in treating his infection and he still faces moderate risk of worsening condition.
After various other inconclusive tests done both locally and abroad, Mouse was directed by his medical team in Barbados to travel to Florida for further assessment. Through the help of his family and friends, he was flown to Florida in Mid-August (last week).
With the extent of testing available in Barbados being exhausted and no clear indication as to if he has another more serious underlying condition such as Crohn’s disease, some other autoimmune disorder, or other ongoing inflammatory process; Mouse is currently in the care of doctors at the Kendall Medical Centre where he has started the process of meeting with specialists and is to undergo extensive testing to better be able to identify and correct the source of his ongoing problems.
Mouse has been unable to work for a full year. To date – even with the assistance his insurance has given – Mouse has borrowed approximately USD $50,000 to cover his treatment. This includes a portion of the preliminary costs for upcoming procedures which are estimated to be in the vicinity of USD $15,000 - $25,000. With this in mind, we have set an initial target of USD $50,000 to assist him in this much need treatment. These costs are expected to increase as he progresses, but with your help, we can lighten this burden for him.
Anything you can contribute is greatly appreciated! Mouse has continued to express his heart felt gratitude for the overwhelming moral and physical support he has been receiving over the past almost 6 years from friends, family, medical teams and even strangers alike. He continues to hold a positive outlook and shows incredible strength and determination to get his health back in order.
Mouse was diagnosed in 2015 with acute diverticulitis, having never had any major illnesses in his life and otherwise being in very good health. Following diagnosis up until late 2018, he suffered severe bouts of diverticulitis “flare-ups”, including high fevers, ongoing crippling abdominal pains, and deteriorating gut function. These were treated with antibiotics and gut health supplements.
In late 2018, his health deteriorated rapidly. Using CT imaging, a colo-vesical fistula was found – a joining of his sigmoid colon to his bladder - which required emergency, major abdominal surgery. In January 2019, his sigmoid colon was removed and the holes in his bladder repaired. Tissue sample pathology results confirmed diverticulitis; but noted no other prevalent features at the time.
Over the following months James suffered recurring discomfort in his abdomen and left side of his lower back, low grade fevers and occasional severe, painful cramping.
In August 2019, his health again began to deteriorate, and his doctor realised an intra-abdominal abscess at the site of his original surgery. On September 5th 2019, a drainage tube was inserted to drain the abscess which remained in place for a few days. By September 9th, Mouse’s appetite had diminished (those who know him would understand the severity of a lost appetite!) and he had severe discomfort in his abdomen, nausea, some intermittent vomiting, and other symptoms of a deteriorating bowel. Over the course of about 2 weeks, he went from normal bowel function, to dramatic deterioration, to no function at all. He lost 35 pounds over this period and faded to a pale shade of grey skin and bones. The cause was a totally obstructed colon.
Emergency surgery was performed on September 25th and the obstruction was found to be at the site of the original procedure in January. An entero-enteric fistula also connected the large and small intestines. The affected tissue was removed and sent for pathology testing both in Barbados and the USA, and reports noted that there were some features of Crohn’s disease – however these were inconclusive!
Due to his stage of malnourishment by this time, the lower part of James’ wound opened, and he developed a visible surgical hernia inside the wound.
About 5 weeks after his second surgery, James again developed high fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, light-headedness, weakness and pale hands and feet. He was sent back to emergency and placed on a saline drip. The following day, James was again admitted to hospital with extremely high fever and pressure in the lower left side of his back.
On October 30th, tests confirmed a totally blocked left ureter (tube between kidney and bladder) with sepsis (potentially life-threatening infection of his blood). It was necessary for an emergency procedure to place a drain (nephrostomy) into his left kidney after attempts to clear the obstruction were unsuccessful. This was again found to be near the site of the original surgery and related to adhesions – scar tissue obstructing the tube between left kidney and bladder. A second tube to drain the infection in a capsule which surrounded the kidney also had to be placed. Nonetheless, his doctor advised that his colon appeared to be healing well.
A week later, James returned home from the hospital and showed good signs of improvement. His appetite returned and he gradually started to go about his life as well as the existing drains and wounds permitted.
Plans were set in motion for a final procedure to put humpty back together again.
On visiting the USA in January 2020, he rapidly took ill again with the identical symptoms and, on admission through emergency in Broward, showed he had a fever of 105° F again and was indeed severely septic. A course of heavy antibiotics and other treatments cleared James to travel home to Barbados to have what we hoped would be his final surgery.
This surgery was completed in March 2020 to reconnect his colon and close the stoma, remove the drains, repair his blocked ureter, repair the hernia, and remove any scar tissue and adhesions surrounding the wound. In the weeks following, he also had a drain placed through his abdomen to clear a small collection of fluid.
Following several weeks of some expected bladder and bowel leakage and agonising stent pains among other expected aches and pains, Mouse began to experience terrible pain and swelling around his pelvic area along with fever and general lack of energy. Within a day or two, a hole opened to the surface of the skin in the same area that was producing air, infected debris, and other debris from the gastrointestinal tract. A few weeks later, another similar hole opened to the surface right above the existing one.
He has been on antibiotics since March 2020 and fighting ongoing infection. This has been kept under some control, but due to his repeated use, there is a fear that they continue to lose effectiveness in treating his infection and he still faces moderate risk of worsening condition.
After various other inconclusive tests done both locally and abroad, Mouse was directed by his medical team in Barbados to travel to Florida for further assessment. Through the help of his family and friends, he was flown to Florida in Mid-August (last week).
With the extent of testing available in Barbados being exhausted and no clear indication as to if he has another more serious underlying condition such as Crohn’s disease, some other autoimmune disorder, or other ongoing inflammatory process; Mouse is currently in the care of doctors at the Kendall Medical Centre where he has started the process of meeting with specialists and is to undergo extensive testing to better be able to identify and correct the source of his ongoing problems.
Mouse has been unable to work for a full year. To date – even with the assistance his insurance has given – Mouse has borrowed approximately USD $50,000 to cover his treatment. This includes a portion of the preliminary costs for upcoming procedures which are estimated to be in the vicinity of USD $15,000 - $25,000. With this in mind, we have set an initial target of USD $50,000 to assist him in this much need treatment. These costs are expected to increase as he progresses, but with your help, we can lighten this burden for him.
Anything you can contribute is greatly appreciated! Mouse has continued to express his heart felt gratitude for the overwhelming moral and physical support he has been receiving over the past almost 6 years from friends, family, medical teams and even strangers alike. He continues to hold a positive outlook and shows incredible strength and determination to get his health back in order.
Fundraising team (4)
James Goddard
Organizer
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Maria Jane Goddard
Beneficiary
Julian Goddard
Team member
Mark Edghill
Team member