Help Ernie Get a Life-Saving Defibrillator

Greeting to the Friends of Ernie,

I am reaching out to those of you who would like to assist a friend in need. As you know, Ernie has been fighting hard and working hard for the last 18 months, improving his habits and diet in an effort to obtain a level of health that would allow him to get a transplant. In this last year, he's been exercising and eating properly all while making repeated trips to the doctors who guided him to better health. He even got married to the love of his life...she, more than anything, has been his reason for fighting and they'd like to have as much time together as they can.

The last hurdle for Ernie's doctors was to take him off of one of his medications before a transplant was possible...although, he didn't roll a 1, he failed his check and found himself in the hospital fighting for his life again. Even worse, he found out that a transplant will NOT be in his future. What devastating news that was.

TODAY:

In addition to fighting off an infection in his heart cavity that developed while in the hospital, there are toxins in his body that continue to need to be removed through dialysis, but that is VERY burdensome on the heart. Ernie's heart constantly goes too slow or too fast...which in itself is a life-threating condition, but the dialysis exacerbates that even more. He now has a pacemaker that is meant to try to keep the heart on a steady rhythm, but if/when the heart fails, the pacemaker can't help. This takes us to the request for your help.

THE NEED:

Ernie hopes to go home later this week. When he does, it is recommended that he have a portable defibrillator that can be at his home. The cost for that device is about $1,800. Any extra donations will help Donna & Ernie cover expenses for the many trips and over-night stays in Madison so Donna could stay close to Ernie while in the hospital.

Please lend Ernie and Donna a hand with this big, sudden payment if you're willing. Thank you in advance to those of you who is willing to help.

Thanx,

Dave Conant

Friend