Matt Sokolowski LVAD Rehab & Heart Transplant
Donation protected
My brother, Matthew Sokolowski's health has been struggling for the past two years. About a year and a half ago, he had 2 heart attacks at the age of 44. He had a defibrillator implanted, which kept his health stable and monitored. Unfortunately, in May of 2019, his heart health began to deteriorate. He recognized the danger signs and checked himself into a health clinic, but the doctors said that his heart was failing and getting weaker.
After several rounds of tests, he was told that he had three options, live out his days with a heart working at less than 20%, have an operation done where surgeons would implant an Impala that would stabilize his heart, but would require that he stay hospitalized until a heart transplant would occur. Matt was leaning more towards the second, when a third option was presented. The cardiac team then recommended where they would implant a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) for heart failure.
This option required that he lose a lot of water weight to improve his overall health for his heart. Over a period of 3 weeks in the ICU, he got to the point where the doctors were happy with his progress and they proceeded with the LVAD implant. For those who don’t know, the LVAD is a mechanical pump that goes inside your chest and helps a bad heart pump blood from one side of the heart to the other. On Thursday, June 13th, he had the LVAD surgery.
He was sedated (photo is from then, with his permission) and did not wake up for 3 days before finally responding to normal interaction with friends and family. Each day he was able to do more and more like move his hands and legs, speak and eat and drink on his own. The doctors were very pleased with the LVAD, but it took 3 ½ weeks of being in ICU before he was transported to progressive care, where he could further work on walking.
Finally, on July 5th, he was released to go home; however, he still has home health care and physical therapy to go through, which could take months to complete.
People with an LVAD can live years, but the heart transplant is the ultimate goal. As of right now, Matthew has a goal to improve his health to be a recipient of a heart donor. As you can imagine, while his insurance has been beneficial, it doesn’t cover all the expenses. Being off work for the last two months has caused considerable strain to their finances. And now the family faces new medical expenses. He now takes 21 prescriptions, and he is continuously looked at by various doctors linked to his heart, kidney, and brain to prepare for heart transplant surgery whenever that comes.
He also does not have a lot of close family living nearby him, so his wife will be doing most of the transportation to and from those appointments. She must take time off from work to get him to his appointments.
He will also be going through a complete lifestyle change of eating more heart healthy foods and keeping up with his health through physical fitness and taking care of tubes linked to this LVAD.
Through social media, a great amount of people offered thoughts and prayers and some have asked if Matthew needed any more help. Yes, the family could use financial help to ease the burden of expenses. Therefore, I have set up this account for the benefit of Matthew Sokolowski’s medical and excess expenses and to assist with his wife and 3 kids, ages 12, 14 and 24. We are offering this help to lessen the worry of expenses on Matthew’s family and build up savings for whenever the heart transplant may take place.
Matt took this photo on July 18th to show some of the things he is working on. Perhaps the biggest change physically is the 90 pounds of weight lost and the short haircut! Matt has never known his hair to be on the short side. He also thought he'd have some fun to show his humor is still there, such as the nose statement and the fact he shaved.
Update: August 5, 2019. Thanks to all those who have donated thus far. This last week Matt and Alex, had their kids and dog return back to the household after spending time with their grandparents in Missouri. You even see Brian in the pictures behind them. Matt continues to make strides and now weighs less than me. He continues to get stronger daily and gets good reports from his doctors. He appreciates all those who have taken the time to donate and share his story.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.
Very Sincerely,
Doug Sokolowski
After several rounds of tests, he was told that he had three options, live out his days with a heart working at less than 20%, have an operation done where surgeons would implant an Impala that would stabilize his heart, but would require that he stay hospitalized until a heart transplant would occur. Matt was leaning more towards the second, when a third option was presented. The cardiac team then recommended where they would implant a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) for heart failure.
This option required that he lose a lot of water weight to improve his overall health for his heart. Over a period of 3 weeks in the ICU, he got to the point where the doctors were happy with his progress and they proceeded with the LVAD implant. For those who don’t know, the LVAD is a mechanical pump that goes inside your chest and helps a bad heart pump blood from one side of the heart to the other. On Thursday, June 13th, he had the LVAD surgery.
He was sedated (photo is from then, with his permission) and did not wake up for 3 days before finally responding to normal interaction with friends and family. Each day he was able to do more and more like move his hands and legs, speak and eat and drink on his own. The doctors were very pleased with the LVAD, but it took 3 ½ weeks of being in ICU before he was transported to progressive care, where he could further work on walking.
Finally, on July 5th, he was released to go home; however, he still has home health care and physical therapy to go through, which could take months to complete.
People with an LVAD can live years, but the heart transplant is the ultimate goal. As of right now, Matthew has a goal to improve his health to be a recipient of a heart donor. As you can imagine, while his insurance has been beneficial, it doesn’t cover all the expenses. Being off work for the last two months has caused considerable strain to their finances. And now the family faces new medical expenses. He now takes 21 prescriptions, and he is continuously looked at by various doctors linked to his heart, kidney, and brain to prepare for heart transplant surgery whenever that comes.
He also does not have a lot of close family living nearby him, so his wife will be doing most of the transportation to and from those appointments. She must take time off from work to get him to his appointments.
He will also be going through a complete lifestyle change of eating more heart healthy foods and keeping up with his health through physical fitness and taking care of tubes linked to this LVAD.
Through social media, a great amount of people offered thoughts and prayers and some have asked if Matthew needed any more help. Yes, the family could use financial help to ease the burden of expenses. Therefore, I have set up this account for the benefit of Matthew Sokolowski’s medical and excess expenses and to assist with his wife and 3 kids, ages 12, 14 and 24. We are offering this help to lessen the worry of expenses on Matthew’s family and build up savings for whenever the heart transplant may take place.
Matt took this photo on July 18th to show some of the things he is working on. Perhaps the biggest change physically is the 90 pounds of weight lost and the short haircut! Matt has never known his hair to be on the short side. He also thought he'd have some fun to show his humor is still there, such as the nose statement and the fact he shaved.
Update: August 5, 2019. Thanks to all those who have donated thus far. This last week Matt and Alex, had their kids and dog return back to the household after spending time with their grandparents in Missouri. You even see Brian in the pictures behind them. Matt continues to make strides and now weighs less than me. He continues to get stronger daily and gets good reports from his doctors. He appreciates all those who have taken the time to donate and share his story.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.
Very Sincerely,
Doug Sokolowski
Organizer
Doug Sokolowski
Organizer
Sedalia, MO