GET WELL SOON JIMMY V!
Donation protected
Anyone who knows my brother in law Jimmy Valdes, (aka Jimmy V), knows how incredible he is. Although he has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, he has never let it slow him down. I could go on all day about how cool he is, but instead I'll just put a link to a video at the bottom of this that tells you everything you need to know about Jimmy!
Unfortunately, he is currently in the fight of his life. On Monday, Sep 30th, Jimmy was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. After 25 hours in the ER, a bed finally opened up. A stronger antibiotic was prescribed as he was not getting better. Unfortunately that night his oxygen levels dropped and fever got worse, so he was transferred to the ICU. His blood pressure and fever got worse, so he needed to be intubated and attached to a ventilator. Anyone who knows about SMA knows how devastating pneumonia can be. But Jimmy is a fighter. After multiple days of being intubated, which he hates, as the tube prevents him from being able to talk (and it's uncomfortable as heck), Jimmy's body was like, "enough of this stupid tube, time to get better!" And miraculously his numbers are improving. In fact they are improving so much that the doctors have started to wean him off the vent.
Jimmy has a long road ahead of him, as it takes weeks/months to recover from such severe pneumonia, even for a healthy person without Spinal Muscular Atrophy. So the medical bills are adding up to disgusting amounts, both he and my amazing sister Julie have been unable to work during this ordeal (my sis has been by his bedside round the clock), and he will be in the hospital for a while as pneumonia and SMA are no joke. So any funds raised will go directly to my sis and Jimmy to help with these bills, maybe get some food delivered, help pay for an aide to come some additional hours, etc.
Quick note on the aide situation, because I tell anyone who will listen how MESSED UP this is. Obviously Jimmy needs an aide/PCA to come for a few hrs in the AM & PM. He pays for it 100% out of pocket, with no assistance from the government, because the govt. defines being disabled as having a condition that prevents you from working. So because Jimmy has a job and isn't taking the easy road, he doesn't count as disabled. Yes, you read that correctly, someone with Spinal Muscular Atrophy doesn't count as disabled!! So he literally gets no disability benefits! Fortunately his employer, CBS Sports, pays for few hours of an aide during the work day when he's in the office, so that is helpful! But the rest is totally out of his pocket, as are things like an accessible van, accessible modifications to their home, etc. SMA is an expensive adventure.
Thanks for reading! And thank you so much for any donation amount to help Jimmy and Julie. Anyone who knows them, knows they would never ask for anything.
With appreciation,
Lisa Stewart
PS: This is the video that will tell you everything you need to know about Jimmy! https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy/videos/1334628643244657/
PS: If you want to send him a get well card, the hospital address is: North Shore University Hospital, 300 Community Dr, Manhasset, NY 11030
Great video from 2016
Unfortunately, he is currently in the fight of his life. On Monday, Sep 30th, Jimmy was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. After 25 hours in the ER, a bed finally opened up. A stronger antibiotic was prescribed as he was not getting better. Unfortunately that night his oxygen levels dropped and fever got worse, so he was transferred to the ICU. His blood pressure and fever got worse, so he needed to be intubated and attached to a ventilator. Anyone who knows about SMA knows how devastating pneumonia can be. But Jimmy is a fighter. After multiple days of being intubated, which he hates, as the tube prevents him from being able to talk (and it's uncomfortable as heck), Jimmy's body was like, "enough of this stupid tube, time to get better!" And miraculously his numbers are improving. In fact they are improving so much that the doctors have started to wean him off the vent.
Jimmy has a long road ahead of him, as it takes weeks/months to recover from such severe pneumonia, even for a healthy person without Spinal Muscular Atrophy. So the medical bills are adding up to disgusting amounts, both he and my amazing sister Julie have been unable to work during this ordeal (my sis has been by his bedside round the clock), and he will be in the hospital for a while as pneumonia and SMA are no joke. So any funds raised will go directly to my sis and Jimmy to help with these bills, maybe get some food delivered, help pay for an aide to come some additional hours, etc.
Quick note on the aide situation, because I tell anyone who will listen how MESSED UP this is. Obviously Jimmy needs an aide/PCA to come for a few hrs in the AM & PM. He pays for it 100% out of pocket, with no assistance from the government, because the govt. defines being disabled as having a condition that prevents you from working. So because Jimmy has a job and isn't taking the easy road, he doesn't count as disabled. Yes, you read that correctly, someone with Spinal Muscular Atrophy doesn't count as disabled!! So he literally gets no disability benefits! Fortunately his employer, CBS Sports, pays for few hours of an aide during the work day when he's in the office, so that is helpful! But the rest is totally out of his pocket, as are things like an accessible van, accessible modifications to their home, etc. SMA is an expensive adventure.
Thanks for reading! And thank you so much for any donation amount to help Jimmy and Julie. Anyone who knows them, knows they would never ask for anything.
With appreciation,
Lisa Stewart
PS: This is the video that will tell you everything you need to know about Jimmy! https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy/videos/1334628643244657/
PS: If you want to send him a get well card, the hospital address is: North Shore University Hospital, 300 Community Dr, Manhasset, NY 11030
Great video from 2016
Organizer and beneficiary
Li SaStewart
Organizer
Jamaica, NY
Julie Valdes
Beneficiary