Help Jesse Olson raise money for medical bills
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My great friend Jesse Olson needs help Badly! I asked him to tell his story so that I could help him. Here it is, please help!
On July 31st, 2009, I went to a doctor's appointment to get an injection in each knee to help with arthritis. The drug was called Synvisc-3. I went to work, at an automotive retail store, and within four hours I had a severe allergic reaction to the injections. My knees swelled up to about the size of a cantaloupe. I was barely able to walk without something to hold unto. I went to the hospital where they told me to just wait until the swelling subsided. Over the following weeks, it was determined that my knees were destroyed and when I stood up, I was bone on bone in my knee joint. Just like that, I was disabled. I could not walk without the use of a four wheeled walker. Ever since that day, I live in chronic pain. I could not work. I eventually got approved for Social Security Disability Insurance. I live on that now. I was able to live independently this way for some time.
Fast forward to Monday, October 28th, 2019. I had been feeling sick since the week before. The community nurse had stopped by during that time, took a blood sample and told me there was nothing wrong and it must be a virus. Over the weekend I kept getting worse. I called her on Monday morning and she got there within minutes because she was concerned for me. She took one look at me and suggested we go to the hospital. I agreed. She called for an ambulance. When I went to get on to the stretcher, I passed out.
When I came to, it was Tuesday afternoon. I found out that my blood oxygen level had dropped to 72 and caused my passing out. They had to intubate me. The local ambulance took me to a hospital in St. Cloud, MN., which is normally a two hour drive from where I lived. My family was called. My children, and the rest of my family, were told that the doctors could not guarantee that I would come out of it. I obviously did.
I found out that I had respiratory failure due to pneumonia, influenza and water weight. Due to a variety of factors, I ended up staying in the hospital until November 25th. In that roughly month's time, I lost over 100 pounds of water weight. I was transferred from the hospital to a long term care center for rehabilitation. By year's end, it was determined that the loss of muscle mass from being in the hospital made it impossible for me to walk.
I spent January and February of 2020, arranging for help from the county and figuring out what to do with an apartment full of belongings. Eventually, in March, some friends and family packed up and moved all my belongings to a storage locker. Some things were brought up to me by my father, brother and sister-in-law, but over 95% of my stuff is in a storage locker.
During these five months, the pandemic hit. It screwed up my situation in a major way. When the dust settled, I was left with numerous bills and only getting a little over $100 a month to take care of any of my wants. Over half of that goes each month to pay for storage.
Health wise, my prognosis is good. I've always been a big guy, but between the inactivity and depression following my reaction I gained weight fast. Now, in order to get back, eventually, to living independently, the first thing I need to do is lose weight. I'm working with a dietician here at the center. I'm also working with the Weight Loss Management Clinic here in St. Cloud. If I eventually need gastric bypass surgery, they will be the ones advising me and doing it. At some point, I will need, at least, two knee replacement surgeries. So, I have a long road ahead of me.
This is where you come in. I need financial help. I have about $10,000 worth of medical and health related bills that need to be taken care of. One bill just went to a lawyer for collection. The stress of having these debts wears on me daily. Knowing that I cannot pay them off in my current situation, I need to ask for help.
Thank you all so much for anything that could help!
-Jesse
On July 31st, 2009, I went to a doctor's appointment to get an injection in each knee to help with arthritis. The drug was called Synvisc-3. I went to work, at an automotive retail store, and within four hours I had a severe allergic reaction to the injections. My knees swelled up to about the size of a cantaloupe. I was barely able to walk without something to hold unto. I went to the hospital where they told me to just wait until the swelling subsided. Over the following weeks, it was determined that my knees were destroyed and when I stood up, I was bone on bone in my knee joint. Just like that, I was disabled. I could not walk without the use of a four wheeled walker. Ever since that day, I live in chronic pain. I could not work. I eventually got approved for Social Security Disability Insurance. I live on that now. I was able to live independently this way for some time.
Fast forward to Monday, October 28th, 2019. I had been feeling sick since the week before. The community nurse had stopped by during that time, took a blood sample and told me there was nothing wrong and it must be a virus. Over the weekend I kept getting worse. I called her on Monday morning and she got there within minutes because she was concerned for me. She took one look at me and suggested we go to the hospital. I agreed. She called for an ambulance. When I went to get on to the stretcher, I passed out.
When I came to, it was Tuesday afternoon. I found out that my blood oxygen level had dropped to 72 and caused my passing out. They had to intubate me. The local ambulance took me to a hospital in St. Cloud, MN., which is normally a two hour drive from where I lived. My family was called. My children, and the rest of my family, were told that the doctors could not guarantee that I would come out of it. I obviously did.
I found out that I had respiratory failure due to pneumonia, influenza and water weight. Due to a variety of factors, I ended up staying in the hospital until November 25th. In that roughly month's time, I lost over 100 pounds of water weight. I was transferred from the hospital to a long term care center for rehabilitation. By year's end, it was determined that the loss of muscle mass from being in the hospital made it impossible for me to walk.
I spent January and February of 2020, arranging for help from the county and figuring out what to do with an apartment full of belongings. Eventually, in March, some friends and family packed up and moved all my belongings to a storage locker. Some things were brought up to me by my father, brother and sister-in-law, but over 95% of my stuff is in a storage locker.
During these five months, the pandemic hit. It screwed up my situation in a major way. When the dust settled, I was left with numerous bills and only getting a little over $100 a month to take care of any of my wants. Over half of that goes each month to pay for storage.
Health wise, my prognosis is good. I've always been a big guy, but between the inactivity and depression following my reaction I gained weight fast. Now, in order to get back, eventually, to living independently, the first thing I need to do is lose weight. I'm working with a dietician here at the center. I'm also working with the Weight Loss Management Clinic here in St. Cloud. If I eventually need gastric bypass surgery, they will be the ones advising me and doing it. At some point, I will need, at least, two knee replacement surgeries. So, I have a long road ahead of me.
This is where you come in. I need financial help. I have about $10,000 worth of medical and health related bills that need to be taken care of. One bill just went to a lawyer for collection. The stress of having these debts wears on me daily. Knowing that I cannot pay them off in my current situation, I need to ask for help.
Thank you all so much for anything that could help!
-Jesse
Co-organizers (2)
Steve Borock
Organizer
Dallas, TX
Josiah Olson
Beneficiary
Jesse Olson
Team member