Matthew Fraser Medical Expenses

 “Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown into a flame by another human being.  Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who rekindled this light.” – Albert Schweitzer

Matt is an extraordinary person who can find the humor in any situation we all love Matt dearly.
In August Matt moved to California from Georgia after losing his father to cancer.  He is only 28 years old, and decided to try to start a new life. He ended up in a difficult fight for his life.  Matt was hospitalized in late November, retaining fluid, and transferred from Kaiser in Richmond, to Kaiser in Santa Clara, California.

Karen, his mom, flew from Georgia to California, thinking she would be driving Matt across country, to return to Georgia where he would live with her while he healed and get his heart strong once more.  Matt suffered from congestive heart failure, and he was very ill.  Upon arriving to be with her son, Karen learned, that Matt could not leave and go home, he was too ill and needed a heart transplant right away.  Karen was stunned, Matt was unable to process this information, it was a moment in time that stood still.  Karen also learned, in order for Matt to receive his new heart, she would have to MOVE near this hospital for 6 months to a year after Matt is released from the hospital. Having left her home, expecting to return in 10 days to 2 weeks, she now faced, locating housing, and staying in California with her son.

Matt was transferred to Stanford, in a few short days.  The emotional rollercoaster was overwhelming, surgeries are no stranger to Matt as he also suffers with Chiari and Pseudotumor Cerebri.  This surgery….would be more intense. Immediately upon arriving at Stanford Matt was given a balloon pump, that did not work.  He was also placed on an Impella, that also failed, and destroyed red blood cells, he was then placed on Ecmo (extra corporeal membrane oxygenation machine)  basically a machine that extracts all of Matt’s blood out of his body, and returns it, with oxygen to his body, really…it’s a machine as his heart…it just sits outside of his body.  Matt could not move, get up, sit up, bend his legs, or roll…. just lay flat ….once strapped in to his bed,  the bed could be tilted until his weight was on his feet.  He could see more than the ceiling, he could see his “neighbors” through the glass wall, other patients, in the ICU who had received lungs!  He could wave, and smile….and he was on the transplant list…waiting.

Then it happened…..He had a very difficult time when he began bleeding from his chest tubes.  Christmas was so hard, seeing him bleeding, and having had the heparin shut down in order to allow him to clot.  It was scary….touch and go…and forced them to give him several units of blood.  Getting Blood Transfusions, complicates transplants, as it increases the antibodies…. but there were no choices.  He was waiting for a heart.


On December 31, 2018, an offer of a donor heart had been found for Matt, he was taken to the operating room to wait for word on the donor heart for the transplant.  Several hours passed with Matt waiting in the O.R. to begin surgery……Karen sitting in the hallway alone, waiting on word, if it would be a “go” for surgery, only to find out that the heart wasn’t viable, and surgery was cancelled. 

 

The very next day, a heart that appeared to be a match to Matt was available, and after several hours was approved, as a true match for Matt.  Late in the evening of January 1, 2019 Matt received a donor heart, and began his new life, with a new heart, on the 1st of the year…a new heart, a new start! 

Karen said, “It is a gift of indefinable proportions, given by this donor, who has breathed new life into my son, and I cannot begin to speak the words of gratitude that would equal the magnitude of this blessing.  I am speechless, in awe, in tears, and greatly moved by their gift of life for my boy.  I am broken by their loss, and what they must be enduring right now…..it is overwhelming in many ways……but thank you just isn’t enough…..my prayers for this wonderful donor, and for his family….are daily….and always will be.

Albeit Matt and his mom truly realize how fortunate they are, they are now forever with a list of other worries.  Matt has to stay in the Santa Clara, CA area for 6 months to a year, post transplant.  Karen must locate housing that has no stairs, mold, animals, plants, etc…as Matt is now immunocompromised due to all the anti rejection medications, and must be more careful than ever to protect his new heart. Karen must provide for her son, and they must find a way to keep Matt strong and healthy, living in California, as well as take care of her home in Georgia.  

Having come from Georgia, the prices for housing, food, gas, etc are breathtaking…..and Karen often says they could live in Paris France for less than they could live near the Apple headquarters building! lol…

So I have started this Go Fund Me to help them both, find a place to live, and make it through all the expenses of this next year!  Let’s get TOGETHER and help Karen and Matt find housing so they can get Matt strong enough to make it back to Georgia! Karen and Matt have been there for so many people through the years, let’s rally and be there for them!