Help support Mitch & Amanda

Hi, my name is Barbara Fitch and I started this page to help Mitch and Amanda, They are really struggling right now as many of you know Mitch is back in the hospital in the critical care unit. He’s on oxygen because he is having trouble breathing on his own. Mitch has five more weeks of treatment for the infection in his heart before they can perform open heart surgery. On top of that the Cardioligist that was recommended informed Mitch and Amanda that they do not take the insurance that Mitch has.

I copied the following from Mitch's FB page that gives a little detail of what is going on.

My luck finally ran out. On August 1, shortly after my birthday, I got very ill with what I thought was the flu. High grade fevers with chills, soaking night sweats, fatigue, and a pounding headache were the order of the day. Every day. After three weeks, I finally went to the ER. Just a bug, they said, and sent me a bill for three grand.

Five months and one weeklong hospital stay later, after seeing all sorts of specialists chasing down every lead from diverticulitis to lymphoma, I finally have a real diagnosis. And it sucks.

I have endocarditis, a rare-but-deadly condition where there's an infection in the aortic valve of my heart. Normal people who don't shoot up and who take care of their teeth almost never get this. But I was born with a birth defect, you see. The bacteria have all but destroyed my little mutant valve and good, oxygenated blood sloshes back into my heart with every pump instead of going where it needs to go. My heart has been putting in a lot of overtime and the poor thing has just about had it.

The upshot of all this is I have to get rid of the infection through daily IV antibiotics for six weeks. And then I get to have open heart surgery to replace the valve. Hopefully, after that, I'll be mostly fine. That's what they say, anyway, but isn't it always.

Let me tell you guys, being very ill for very long, it's no picnic. I haven't been able to work or do much of anything. I'm very tired and very broke. Thank God for Amanda, who has endured frequent crying jags with incredible patience. Without her...well, I don't like to think about that too much. Let's just say you wouldn't be reading this.

It's a delicate and dangerous time for me right now, walking (slowly) around like this. But I can finally see the light of day. Hopefully I'll make it the six weeks and through the surgery. If not, well, I'll miss you. Take it easy.

Please note that any donation amount is greatly appreciated and will help alleviate the stress Mitch and Amanda are experiencing at this time. I am setting up this page so that any funds go directly to them. Thank you for taking the time to read this and please share.

UPDATE, THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO TAKE HIM INTO SURGERY TODAY 1/12/23. WILL POST UPDATES AS I GET THEM.