Michael Bender's Open Heart Surgery
Donation protected
My husband, Michael, and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary October 1, the day after he was relased from the hospital. A week prior I drove him to the emergency room because of upper chest and shoulder pain. X-rays and a CT scan revealed pericarditis or fluid around the heart.
He was admitted to cardiac ICU and underwent an echocardiogram to determine the amount of fluid. What they found in addition to the fluid was an aneurysm measuring 5cm on his aortic arch and a leaking bicuspid valve. We knew about the valve, he was born with it. The anuerysm is a new (and very scary) player to the game.
Michael's pain did not subside. Nor did he respond to medications intended to help the pericarditis as expected. Four days into his hospital stay Michael was rushed to the cardiac cath lab to drain the fluid.
The procedure should have taken 30 minutes. They worked with Michael for 90 minutes. So much fluid had accumulated that it was pressing against not only his heart but his lungs as well. Our doctor said his heart was working as if it was a balloon trying to inflate inside a water balloon. He referred to a "small window of opportunity" during the procdure where it was either "pierce the pericardium or pierce the heart". The cardiac surgeon was called in just in case they needed her. Remarkably, the doctor found the window he needed and was able to insert the drainge tube. We were told most patients tend to have about 100ml of fluid drain out. Over 800 ml. of fluid drained from around my husband's heart!
All that fluid caused his bicuspid valve to begin leaking more. It is currently leaking a severe amount of blood. And it is leaking directly towards the aneurysm. Big yikes. Big, big yikes!
Michael is scheduled to have open heart surgery in the next 2 weeks. Our very capable surgeon will replace his valve, repair the aneurysm, possibly remove the pericardium and return to me and my family the husband, father and "Gaga" we love so much.
My name is Karen. I have been blessed to teach art at a small Catholic school for the past 20 years. Michael was working as a truck driver at a small company, until his heart called for this time out 4 weeks ago. He will not be able to work for an additional 12 weeks after surgery. While his employer has been most kind, understanding and sympathetic he is not able to provide sick pay, disability or offer paid "vacation". Therefore we decided it was best for Michael to file for unemployment. We are still waiting to hear if he has been approved.
Thankfully, we do have health insurance. It is through my employer. To be honest, I am not ready to know so much about medical bills, deductables and co-pays and insurance claims and statements and pending this and your claim status that...it's overwhelming. One test Michael has to have costs $17,000 (Seventeen t h o u s a n d dollars.) Our estimated our of pocket expense for the test is $1,100. Admittedly, even that super reduced fee is too much for our bank account. I am left wondering- What will our out of pocket be for open heart surgery? What will our out of pocket be for his previous emergency room trip and resulting week long hospital stay in ICU ? For the echocardiograms and the transesophageal echocardiogram and the CT scans ? And the anesthesiology? What will we owe for the procedure to drain gobs of fluid surrounding his heart? And now our income is half of what it was. And, I am the only breadwinner. Big yikes. Big, big yikes.
Donations to our campaign will be used for impending medical bills. Donations to our campaign will be used for monthly mortgage and household bills. Donations to our campaign may be used to fill the gas tank. Donations to our campaign quite possibly could be used to purchase groceries.
Michael is 52, I am just shy of 49. We have a son, Zach and two daughters Tess and Leah. We are crazy bonkers in love with our granddaughter and positively cannot wait for our grandson to be born in November. (Leah and her family live with us so I am planning for a repaired heart and a newborn heart to grow stronger together!) We are The Benders. Our hobby is laughter. And love. Lots of it.
Heartfelt thanks, friends, for considering our fund. Michael and I are humbled and truly grateful for your support.
God Bless You.
Donate to our fund at the Red Level and receive an original signed print of Lovebirds by Karen.
He was admitted to cardiac ICU and underwent an echocardiogram to determine the amount of fluid. What they found in addition to the fluid was an aneurysm measuring 5cm on his aortic arch and a leaking bicuspid valve. We knew about the valve, he was born with it. The anuerysm is a new (and very scary) player to the game.
Michael's pain did not subside. Nor did he respond to medications intended to help the pericarditis as expected. Four days into his hospital stay Michael was rushed to the cardiac cath lab to drain the fluid.
The procedure should have taken 30 minutes. They worked with Michael for 90 minutes. So much fluid had accumulated that it was pressing against not only his heart but his lungs as well. Our doctor said his heart was working as if it was a balloon trying to inflate inside a water balloon. He referred to a "small window of opportunity" during the procdure where it was either "pierce the pericardium or pierce the heart". The cardiac surgeon was called in just in case they needed her. Remarkably, the doctor found the window he needed and was able to insert the drainge tube. We were told most patients tend to have about 100ml of fluid drain out. Over 800 ml. of fluid drained from around my husband's heart!
All that fluid caused his bicuspid valve to begin leaking more. It is currently leaking a severe amount of blood. And it is leaking directly towards the aneurysm. Big yikes. Big, big yikes!
Michael is scheduled to have open heart surgery in the next 2 weeks. Our very capable surgeon will replace his valve, repair the aneurysm, possibly remove the pericardium and return to me and my family the husband, father and "Gaga" we love so much.
My name is Karen. I have been blessed to teach art at a small Catholic school for the past 20 years. Michael was working as a truck driver at a small company, until his heart called for this time out 4 weeks ago. He will not be able to work for an additional 12 weeks after surgery. While his employer has been most kind, understanding and sympathetic he is not able to provide sick pay, disability or offer paid "vacation". Therefore we decided it was best for Michael to file for unemployment. We are still waiting to hear if he has been approved.
Thankfully, we do have health insurance. It is through my employer. To be honest, I am not ready to know so much about medical bills, deductables and co-pays and insurance claims and statements and pending this and your claim status that...it's overwhelming. One test Michael has to have costs $17,000 (Seventeen t h o u s a n d dollars.) Our estimated our of pocket expense for the test is $1,100. Admittedly, even that super reduced fee is too much for our bank account. I am left wondering- What will our out of pocket be for open heart surgery? What will our out of pocket be for his previous emergency room trip and resulting week long hospital stay in ICU ? For the echocardiograms and the transesophageal echocardiogram and the CT scans ? And the anesthesiology? What will we owe for the procedure to drain gobs of fluid surrounding his heart? And now our income is half of what it was. And, I am the only breadwinner. Big yikes. Big, big yikes.
Donations to our campaign will be used for impending medical bills. Donations to our campaign will be used for monthly mortgage and household bills. Donations to our campaign may be used to fill the gas tank. Donations to our campaign quite possibly could be used to purchase groceries.
Michael is 52, I am just shy of 49. We have a son, Zach and two daughters Tess and Leah. We are crazy bonkers in love with our granddaughter and positively cannot wait for our grandson to be born in November. (Leah and her family live with us so I am planning for a repaired heart and a newborn heart to grow stronger together!) We are The Benders. Our hobby is laughter. And love. Lots of it.
Heartfelt thanks, friends, for considering our fund. Michael and I are humbled and truly grateful for your support.
God Bless You.
Donate to our fund at the Red Level and receive an original signed print of Lovebirds by Karen.
Organizer
Karen Bender
Organizer
Middletown, OH