Help Jeremy Come Home for Christmas

Hi, my name is Teresa Long, and this fundraiser for my dear friend, Jeremy Palmer.

Jeremy didn’t realize that the pain in his chest meant that he was having a heart attack. Fortunately, people who care for him knew what it was and called 911. This was on Christmas Eve. Jeremy was carried away on a gurney passing the decorated tree and wrapped gifts, and was life-flighted to emergency surgery that would change his life.

The surgeons saved Jeremy after 11 hours in the operating room. It took that long to repair the tears in his aorta and coronary artery by using a synthetic vein and a mechanical valve, then a bypass was required as well. Surgery was only the beginning. Jeremy moved to ICU where the long road of recovery began. He looked like he was in a NASA control room with all the monitors above him and wires attached to his body. Then came the feeding tube, ventilator, tracheotomy, dialysis, chest tubes, fluid drainage, aneurysm , brain ablation, and electric shock to get his heart back in rhythm. Needless to say, going back to work anytime soon is impossible.

The trauma his brain and body has endured made him lose the use of his left arm, and he’ll need months of therapy in order to learn to speak and eat again. Even though he’ll be away from home for a long time, the decorations will stay up and the gifts will remain under the tree until he returns.

As you can imagine, the medical bills are enormous. The plan for paying these expenses will be for another day. Jeremy needs help with the rent that is due, car payment, utilities, and the expenses we all have. He doesn’t need to worry about whether or not he’ll have a place to come home to. Both he and his partner have not worked for seven weeks, and it will be a year before Jeremy can work again.

So please continue to pray and help Jeremy get home for Christmas. Your gifts are greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!