GIVE NICK BLAKE A CHANCE
Donation protected
As a child, Nick was a tender-hearted and cooperative and he has grown into a gentle and compassionate man. As an example of his kind and generous nature - this non-drinking young man considers it his duty to safely drive home every fellow dart club member who has imbibed in alcohol during competitive play. In spite of many medical and physiological challenges, throughout his life, Nick has remained a very good person and is beloved by many.
As a toddler diagnosed with a Dandy-Walker brain cyst which caused swelling in his head, he had 2 shunts inserted to allow fluid to drain into his abdomen. Since then, he suffered many bouts of migraine headaches and accompanying nausea. While on a job site in 2002, Nick’s dad suffered an aortic dissection and subsequent damage from lack of oxygen to the brain, thereby disabling him. It was discovered his family carried a gene for Ehlers-Danlos. This syndrome later claimed the life of Nick’s older brother and only sibling, who died because of a sudden aortic aneurysm while sleeping. These events affect Nick’s sleep and trigger bouts of anxiety and depression. A year after his brother’s death, Nick was rushed to the ER with a terrible headache, where it was determined his drainage tube had broken apart. While running CT scans to follow the tubing into the abdomen, doctors discovered an aortic ballooning and he soon went into surgery to repair it, as well. It was discovered then that Nick was also diabetic and his surgical healing was very slow. He developed pneumonia and an infection in his sternum, which had to be removed. Now, where he no longer has a sternum, a giant hernia protrudes, causing him anxiety, embarrassment, and discomfort. He has sought help to correct this, but without health insurance, he cannot find a willing surgeon. He is too old to remain on his mother’s policy.
As you can see, Nick’s predicament has been caused by genetic bad luck, followed by a lack of good care (largely due to inadequate funding). In response to episodes of fainting, (possibly due to the shunts overworking), he was advised keep his blood pressure higher than normal and consequently, suffered a recent stroke, which has set him further back. Currently, if his diabetes treatment doesn’t remain consistent, he will never escape this downward spiraling cycle of related ailments.
Since his mother is the only family member able to work, the family budget is stretched very thin. She pays out of pocket for what medications and supplies she can for him, but frequently falls short. Nick has applied for Maine Care and disability several times and has been denied for reasons that make absolutely no sense. He will continue his attempts to find a permanent financial solution to meet his healthcare needs, but in the meantime, the family needs help in purchasing his prescriptions and medical supplies. Please help this family, keep Nick going.
As a toddler diagnosed with a Dandy-Walker brain cyst which caused swelling in his head, he had 2 shunts inserted to allow fluid to drain into his abdomen. Since then, he suffered many bouts of migraine headaches and accompanying nausea. While on a job site in 2002, Nick’s dad suffered an aortic dissection and subsequent damage from lack of oxygen to the brain, thereby disabling him. It was discovered his family carried a gene for Ehlers-Danlos. This syndrome later claimed the life of Nick’s older brother and only sibling, who died because of a sudden aortic aneurysm while sleeping. These events affect Nick’s sleep and trigger bouts of anxiety and depression. A year after his brother’s death, Nick was rushed to the ER with a terrible headache, where it was determined his drainage tube had broken apart. While running CT scans to follow the tubing into the abdomen, doctors discovered an aortic ballooning and he soon went into surgery to repair it, as well. It was discovered then that Nick was also diabetic and his surgical healing was very slow. He developed pneumonia and an infection in his sternum, which had to be removed. Now, where he no longer has a sternum, a giant hernia protrudes, causing him anxiety, embarrassment, and discomfort. He has sought help to correct this, but without health insurance, he cannot find a willing surgeon. He is too old to remain on his mother’s policy.
As you can see, Nick’s predicament has been caused by genetic bad luck, followed by a lack of good care (largely due to inadequate funding). In response to episodes of fainting, (possibly due to the shunts overworking), he was advised keep his blood pressure higher than normal and consequently, suffered a recent stroke, which has set him further back. Currently, if his diabetes treatment doesn’t remain consistent, he will never escape this downward spiraling cycle of related ailments.
Since his mother is the only family member able to work, the family budget is stretched very thin. She pays out of pocket for what medications and supplies she can for him, but frequently falls short. Nick has applied for Maine Care and disability several times and has been denied for reasons that make absolutely no sense. He will continue his attempts to find a permanent financial solution to meet his healthcare needs, but in the meantime, the family needs help in purchasing his prescriptions and medical supplies. Please help this family, keep Nick going.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kimberly McIntire
Organizer
Topsham, ME
Debbie Blake
Beneficiary