Life Saving Surgery for Mike Anthony
Donation protected
My heart is heavy as I write this today as it is our 7th wedding anniversary and instead of celebrating we are currently in crisis. Mike has been through some tough challenges over the last few months and he needs our help more than ever. We need to raise money for potential lifesaving surgery which is not covered by health insurance.
It all started when he was taken into the hospital on the 17th of April in excruciating pain after suffering from a spinal cord stroke. That was the last time I saw him as he was driven off in an ambulance. COVID-19 was rampant and this made our troubles unbearable as I couldn't be with him. Emergency surgery was performed to fix the issue and prevent permanent paralysis. Mike began physical therapy while in the ICU and luckily his nerves began responding. He was soon discharged from the ICU and was admitted into a full time rehab center. Mike underwent several weeks of physical therapy before he was able to stand on his own. After a lot of hard work, he was finally walking with a walker and was moved into a full time step-down rehab. There he continued his physical therapy while growing stronger and stronger every day.
Unexpectedly Mike caught an infection in his colon, went into septic shock, and had to be rushed to Mercy Medical Center. He was sent to the ICU and put on strong antibiotics to fight the infection. After several days, the infection became worse and Mike had to be placed on a ventilator to help him breathe. His condition was ever changing and doctors determined that he wasn’t strong enough to undergo colon surgery to beat the infection. He had extremely low blood pressure and his kidneys began to fail. Despite the negative prognosis, Mike began to overcome his condition as his kidneys were no longer showing signs of failure and his blood pressure regulated. Medical staff attempted to take him off of the ventilator multiple times with no success. Then, his fever returned, breathing became more difficult, and there was a buildup of fluid in his abdomen. Doctors confirmed my worst fear: Mike had come down with a second infection.
Since then, Mike has not responded well to the antibiotics and doctors have limited options. Currently as you read these words, it is recommended that he have a procedure that involves transplanting beneficial bacteria into his infected colon in hopes it promotes the growth of good bacteria to fight the infection. This is our last option as Mike is not strong enough to fight the infection on his own. Regrettably this procedure is not covered by insurance and will cost us over $5,000.
Due to this global pandemic, times have been extremely difficult and our income has been severely affected as I am a career Flight Attendant. I am completely distraught and overwhelmed by the deterioration of Mike’s health and am praying for a miracle. He is my world and I can't imagine my life without him in it. I even left my family, friends and country to be here with him. Instead of toasting our 7 years of marriage, he is on a ventilator while I sit at his bedside wishing I could do more. Any help you can provide will be extremely appreciated and will go directly towards Mike’s medical care. Please help us fight this infection and get Mike back on his feet. Mike is the guy who always has a smile on his face no matter the situation. I am desperate to see that smile once again and to return it with a smile of my own. Please help me save my husband’s life.
- Karen Anthony
It all started when he was taken into the hospital on the 17th of April in excruciating pain after suffering from a spinal cord stroke. That was the last time I saw him as he was driven off in an ambulance. COVID-19 was rampant and this made our troubles unbearable as I couldn't be with him. Emergency surgery was performed to fix the issue and prevent permanent paralysis. Mike began physical therapy while in the ICU and luckily his nerves began responding. He was soon discharged from the ICU and was admitted into a full time rehab center. Mike underwent several weeks of physical therapy before he was able to stand on his own. After a lot of hard work, he was finally walking with a walker and was moved into a full time step-down rehab. There he continued his physical therapy while growing stronger and stronger every day.
Unexpectedly Mike caught an infection in his colon, went into septic shock, and had to be rushed to Mercy Medical Center. He was sent to the ICU and put on strong antibiotics to fight the infection. After several days, the infection became worse and Mike had to be placed on a ventilator to help him breathe. His condition was ever changing and doctors determined that he wasn’t strong enough to undergo colon surgery to beat the infection. He had extremely low blood pressure and his kidneys began to fail. Despite the negative prognosis, Mike began to overcome his condition as his kidneys were no longer showing signs of failure and his blood pressure regulated. Medical staff attempted to take him off of the ventilator multiple times with no success. Then, his fever returned, breathing became more difficult, and there was a buildup of fluid in his abdomen. Doctors confirmed my worst fear: Mike had come down with a second infection.
Since then, Mike has not responded well to the antibiotics and doctors have limited options. Currently as you read these words, it is recommended that he have a procedure that involves transplanting beneficial bacteria into his infected colon in hopes it promotes the growth of good bacteria to fight the infection. This is our last option as Mike is not strong enough to fight the infection on his own. Regrettably this procedure is not covered by insurance and will cost us over $5,000.
Due to this global pandemic, times have been extremely difficult and our income has been severely affected as I am a career Flight Attendant. I am completely distraught and overwhelmed by the deterioration of Mike’s health and am praying for a miracle. He is my world and I can't imagine my life without him in it. I even left my family, friends and country to be here with him. Instead of toasting our 7 years of marriage, he is on a ventilator while I sit at his bedside wishing I could do more. Any help you can provide will be extremely appreciated and will go directly towards Mike’s medical care. Please help us fight this infection and get Mike back on his feet. Mike is the guy who always has a smile on his face no matter the situation. I am desperate to see that smile once again and to return it with a smile of my own. Please help me save my husband’s life.
- Karen Anthony
Organizer and beneficiary
Karen Anthony
Organizer
Merrick, NY
Michael Anthony
Beneficiary