Michael's Heart Fund
Donation protected
I am humbly asking for your help. Please read my dad's story.
On March 13, 2015 my dad was rushed by ambulance to University of Vermont Medical Center because he suffered a massive heart attack. The news the cardiologist gave us forever changed our lives and most of all my fathers. Hearing my dad was unable to get surgery and the only thing that would save his life was to have a temporary balloon in his heart and receive a heart transplant was literally heart breaking. I tried to process the news, grabbed my cell phone and starting to call family members immediately. That evening I was connected with a cardiologist who helped me make plans for my father's medical care. The decision was made to move my dad from Tufts Medical, abandon the thought of a heart transplant, and move him to Beth Israel Medical Center so that he could get treatment by the BEST Interventionalist in Boston. Once my father was moved to Beth Israel his Cath procedure was performed, 3-4 hours later the Dr. told us it was as successful, he repaired and stented his LAD-Artery, which allowed him to remove the supportive intra-aortic balloon pump. Since the surgery he has progressed so that he can recuperate at home and he has enough viable heart muscle, at this time, that he will not need a heart transplant. My fathers heart functions at 15%. He needs to wear an external defibrillator, a Zoll LifeVest, because there is an increased risk of lethal arrhythmia. In about a month he will need an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placed. Due to insurance co-payments and no disability insurance he has many bills/living expenses and now medical expenses coming in. The LifeVest device alone that he needs to wear is $4,000 per month. The ICD device that will be placed costs $25K for the unit, plus the expense of the hospital stay, and professional fees. I don't want this financial stress for my father. He is a hard-working man that has never asked anything of anyone in his entire life! He went to work on a farm when he was 16y old and continued farming until starting his own business as a skilled carpenter, and now manages property. My father is not only my dad but was a foster-parent to so many children throughout the years. His heart is big and his love even bigger. If you asked him for help he was there. This brings me to why I am writing this… My father needs help. Even after his back surgery and a total knee replacement from work related injuries, he continued working! His wife also suffers from chronic coronary heart disease. My stepmom in 2010 had a heart attack in June leading to open heart surgery and undergoing a quadruple bypass. After 7 weeks her arteries failed and were once again 100% blocked. At this time she was given a 2 week survival rate. The decision was made to seek other treatment options in Boston at Beth Israel Medical Center. The Interventionalist, the same Dr. who performed my fathers procedure, was able to stent two (2) of the arteries. My parents need help now more than any other time. They have medical bills coming in and will have a life-time of heart medications they both need to take, traveling expenses for continued care in Boston, and the placement of my fathers ICD. Your donations could make a huge difference in his recovery and lessen the financial burden while he recuperates. The burden of paying bills is heavy on his heart and a stress that I don’t want him to endure. I am asking all of you if you are able to help in any way with a small contribution it would be appreciated beyond words!
On March 13, 2015 my dad was rushed by ambulance to University of Vermont Medical Center because he suffered a massive heart attack. The news the cardiologist gave us forever changed our lives and most of all my fathers. Hearing my dad was unable to get surgery and the only thing that would save his life was to have a temporary balloon in his heart and receive a heart transplant was literally heart breaking. I tried to process the news, grabbed my cell phone and starting to call family members immediately. That evening I was connected with a cardiologist who helped me make plans for my father's medical care. The decision was made to move my dad from Tufts Medical, abandon the thought of a heart transplant, and move him to Beth Israel Medical Center so that he could get treatment by the BEST Interventionalist in Boston. Once my father was moved to Beth Israel his Cath procedure was performed, 3-4 hours later the Dr. told us it was as successful, he repaired and stented his LAD-Artery, which allowed him to remove the supportive intra-aortic balloon pump. Since the surgery he has progressed so that he can recuperate at home and he has enough viable heart muscle, at this time, that he will not need a heart transplant. My fathers heart functions at 15%. He needs to wear an external defibrillator, a Zoll LifeVest, because there is an increased risk of lethal arrhythmia. In about a month he will need an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placed. Due to insurance co-payments and no disability insurance he has many bills/living expenses and now medical expenses coming in. The LifeVest device alone that he needs to wear is $4,000 per month. The ICD device that will be placed costs $25K for the unit, plus the expense of the hospital stay, and professional fees. I don't want this financial stress for my father. He is a hard-working man that has never asked anything of anyone in his entire life! He went to work on a farm when he was 16y old and continued farming until starting his own business as a skilled carpenter, and now manages property. My father is not only my dad but was a foster-parent to so many children throughout the years. His heart is big and his love even bigger. If you asked him for help he was there. This brings me to why I am writing this… My father needs help. Even after his back surgery and a total knee replacement from work related injuries, he continued working! His wife also suffers from chronic coronary heart disease. My stepmom in 2010 had a heart attack in June leading to open heart surgery and undergoing a quadruple bypass. After 7 weeks her arteries failed and were once again 100% blocked. At this time she was given a 2 week survival rate. The decision was made to seek other treatment options in Boston at Beth Israel Medical Center. The Interventionalist, the same Dr. who performed my fathers procedure, was able to stent two (2) of the arteries. My parents need help now more than any other time. They have medical bills coming in and will have a life-time of heart medications they both need to take, traveling expenses for continued care in Boston, and the placement of my fathers ICD. Your donations could make a huge difference in his recovery and lessen the financial burden while he recuperates. The burden of paying bills is heavy on his heart and a stress that I don’t want him to endure. I am asking all of you if you are able to help in any way with a small contribution it would be appreciated beyond words!
Organizer and beneficiary
Melissa Boisvert
Organizer
Morristown, VT
Michael Boisvert
Beneficiary