Help Michael Schmidt's family recover from his heart surgery

Hello! This is Mike Schmidt, a husband, father, IT guy, former Vermont's Finest Ben & Jerry's ice cream scooper and amateur trombone player who lives with his wife, Kimberly, and two teenagers, Evan and Caroline, in Sugar Hill, GA. I am asking for your help. In March of this year, I was let go from my IT job as a Technical Account Manager. In April I started having symptoms such as shortness of breath and pressure in my chest when doing any extended physical activity. After multiple visits to heart doctors and specialists, it was discovered that I needed a new heart valve, along with a heart bypass (the "widow maker" artery was 70-99% blocked) and removal of the blockage in the carotid artery on the right side of my neck (99% blocked). Required by the doctors to reduce the possibility of getting an infection in my heart during heart surgery, in June I had oral surgery to remove a bacterial infection in my mouth. All my upper teeth had to be removed. With my mouth healed from the oral surgery and my gums no longer having a bacterial infection, on September 4th at Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta, I had 9 hours of open-heart surgery to replace the valve, perform the bypass, and clean out my carotid artery. Thirty days after this surgery I was allowed to start driving a car again, but I am still not allowed to lift anything heavier than 8 pounds until the beginning of December to ensure proper healing of my breastbone.

Due to my health issues and associated medical bills, along with not yet having found a new IT job (as a Technical Account Manager, Solutions Architect, or Solutions Engineer), we have fallen behind on our rent and are facing eviction. I am asking for your help to get caught up on these rent payments. While continuing to look for an IT position, in July I accepted a job as a bus driver with Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS). Although this job would leave me underemployed, it would allow me to bring in some money to help take care of my family. Unfortunately, due to my heart condition in July, GCPS understandably would not allow me to start the bus driver training until after I had the heart surgery. With my heart healing nicely and my doctors having given me clearance to go back to work, I plan on starting the next available bus driver training on October 28th, while continuing to look for an IT job.

For all of their prayers and support, I want to acknowledge our church family at North Metro Baptist Church. My family and I are so grateful to them. After my hospital stay, they provided dinners during the month of September through a meal train. I also want to thank our neighbors and friends who provided food and support as well during this time.

As a piece of advice, I strongly recommend that everyone have a yearly physical checkup and make sure that you tell your doctor of any symptoms you are experiencing such as pressure in your chest, shortness of breath, dizziness, fluttering heartbeat, or fatigue. Please pay attention to your body. I would never have guessed that having these symptoms in April would lead to open heart surgery and save my life just a few months later.

I realize that there are so many people in FL, NC and the surrounding states that have had their lives turned upside down due to the recent hurricanes. They have it much worse and need our help too. I am asking you for your financial help to gain stability for my family in this difficult time while I physically heal. Any amount you are willing to contribute would be a blessing. If you can't contribute money at this time, please share this with your family and friends. One day, we will be a family that pays it forward.

Thank you for your time, prayers and support. God Bless.

With gratitude and humility, Mike