Greg Tesch and Family
Donation protected
Friends, family, and my dad’s fellow fraternity brothers, as most of you know we almost lost my dad in the Spring of 2007. He doesn’t talk about it much to anyone, including me, but as I’ve become an adult I’ve come to know the seriousness of the disease he lives with.
For those who do not know, my dad has idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a progressive disease of the myocardium (heart muscle) that weakens it and is unable to pump the blood to the body as well as it should. It can also cause congestive heart failure and several other problems because of it. Some of the problems that have affected my dad include atrial fibrillation, diabetes, kidney problems, and a reoccurring clot in his heart. This is why I am writing this today.
I saw my father post a photo of an echo cardiogram machine when he was at the doctor’s office on Facebook the other day and I knew he was worried. I can’t recall a time, since he has had this disease, that he has ever posted about his condition publicly. I know he is scared especially when looking at the facts. Half the people with his condition don’t make it past two years. My family has been truly blessed to have had him survive this long, but this year has been tough on him. His ejection fraction has been regressing as his heart works less than half the capacity of a healthy one. He has also had to deal with a serious reoccurring problem with a clot in the ventricle of his heart. This was the reason for the echocardiogram this past week. They have not been successful in removing it through different medications, which has become very concerning. If the clot lets go from the wall of his heart it will most certainly have catastrophic results.
My dad has somehow managed to take care of us even though he has been unable to work. I know this has been, and is becoming, an even greater challenge for him as time has passed. That is why I am doing this. The cost of his continued medical care and life expenses continue to escalate and I feel helpless as a college student. I am worried about my family and their financial needs. Although I wish I was forward thinking enough to do this years ago, but now is the time. The priority of both myself and family should be to keep him comfortable and happy, and not worrying about other things.
This is not something I ever envisioned writing but my Dad has been a fighter. I know he has beat the odds so far and I am praying he continues to do so. Please say a prayer for our family and thank you in advance for your support.
We love you Dad!
Collin
For those who do not know, my dad has idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a progressive disease of the myocardium (heart muscle) that weakens it and is unable to pump the blood to the body as well as it should. It can also cause congestive heart failure and several other problems because of it. Some of the problems that have affected my dad include atrial fibrillation, diabetes, kidney problems, and a reoccurring clot in his heart. This is why I am writing this today.
I saw my father post a photo of an echo cardiogram machine when he was at the doctor’s office on Facebook the other day and I knew he was worried. I can’t recall a time, since he has had this disease, that he has ever posted about his condition publicly. I know he is scared especially when looking at the facts. Half the people with his condition don’t make it past two years. My family has been truly blessed to have had him survive this long, but this year has been tough on him. His ejection fraction has been regressing as his heart works less than half the capacity of a healthy one. He has also had to deal with a serious reoccurring problem with a clot in the ventricle of his heart. This was the reason for the echocardiogram this past week. They have not been successful in removing it through different medications, which has become very concerning. If the clot lets go from the wall of his heart it will most certainly have catastrophic results.
My dad has somehow managed to take care of us even though he has been unable to work. I know this has been, and is becoming, an even greater challenge for him as time has passed. That is why I am doing this. The cost of his continued medical care and life expenses continue to escalate and I feel helpless as a college student. I am worried about my family and their financial needs. Although I wish I was forward thinking enough to do this years ago, but now is the time. The priority of both myself and family should be to keep him comfortable and happy, and not worrying about other things.
This is not something I ever envisioned writing but my Dad has been a fighter. I know he has beat the odds so far and I am praying he continues to do so. Please say a prayer for our family and thank you in advance for your support.
We love you Dad!
Collin
Organizer and beneficiary
Collin Tesch
Organizer
Middlebury, CT
Greg Tesch
Beneficiary