Nick's illness discovery and treatment
Donation protected
Like many of you, 2021 has not been what our family imagined it would be! As if trying to dodge getting Covid wasn't something we all want to avoid, my husband Nick woke on a December morning with what appeared to be organs sticking out from his abdomen and in severe pain. We tried to bring him to the ER, but were turned away since it was not Covid related and not considered acute. His doctor's were uncertain of the cause, so we started down the road of diagnostic hell trying to get Nick into various practices while warily biting our nails thru booked calendars and full nurse line voicemail systems. It was all we could do to be polite, but beg for someone to take it seriously. On December 8th he weighed 205lbs, today he weighs 150 and still dropping.
There are many scenarios that occurred along the way, but most significant was the rapid decline we saw in Nick's weight, cognitive function, narcolepsy, severe pain levels and motor skills. It has been horrifying for each of us to see the patriarch of our family wither away before our eyes.
Nick was able to spend Christmas with his family, but had already declined a lot. Over the next 3 months he became unable to walk or perform any care for himself, sleeping near 22 hours a day, and most recently unable to articulate his words to communicate on some days.
Unfortunately the doctor's in Alaska have exhausted all of their areas of expertise and it was agreed that it was time for Nick to get more extensive and immediate care. The decision was made to transfer him to the Mayo Clinic. Fortunately our daughter Kim lives in MN so we could get her assistance and have a place to stay during any occupational or physical therapy post diagnoses.
Nick had his first appointment at the Mayo Clinic on Tuesday, March 23. Many tests were performed and we hope to have the results of those tests by Friday, March 26. Due to his inability to walk and hold up his own body weight, it was necessary for us to rent a wheelchair accessible van to transport Nick from Brooklyn Park to Rochester, a 2 hour drive, plus daily transports to and from the Mayo Clinic. Because of Covid, hospitals including Mayo have changed their procedures and admittance is discouraged. Instead we will have to stay at a nearby hotel and rent medical equipment like bed lifts, and hoisting mechanisms to care for Nick. A home health care assistant has been prescribed, however they are unable to assist while we are in Rochester, and insurance only pays for 2 days a week, but we need it 7. These are costs we were not expecting when we thought he would be admitted.
The costs are adding up so quickly I barely took notice until I had to take a loan to cover my account. Like most of my close friends and family, asking for help is not something I feel comfortable with, however if it means saving Nick's life, then I find myself at the mercy of those who have it on their heart to help. Nick is a veteran of the United States Air Force, having served 20 yrs including in Vietnam. He also served as sheriff's deputy CO in Minnesota for over 10 years. The man has given all his strength over the years to help others and still would if he had anything left. It is my heart and hope that some may be able to now help serve him.
Before Christmas, Nick and his three grandsons started a carpentry project in his shop that he had hoped to have finished by the New Year, but now it sits in the shop waiting - just like those boys, to have Papa make its finishing touches. I share this to ask; if you can help make that possible it would bring the life we need to our family - Nick's life. All the million dollar tests run thus far say he should be functioning as a healthy 71 year old man, so any donation is not going to a man who is dying, but a man who is trying to live.
Thank you from all of our family for the prayers from afar, to those who have come and laid their hands on Nick for healing and blessed our travels and excursions! That alone is a value far beyond our expectations. If it is on your heart to give financially we are in a position we could use it now. We will need to stay in Rochester possibly another week or more and still need to acquire medical equipment and supplies that we had thought the Mayo Clinic would be assisting us with that typically insurance would cover, but Medicare does not and neither does Tricare. Thank you from our entire family for considering us and Nick in your giving and prayers. God Bless!
There are many scenarios that occurred along the way, but most significant was the rapid decline we saw in Nick's weight, cognitive function, narcolepsy, severe pain levels and motor skills. It has been horrifying for each of us to see the patriarch of our family wither away before our eyes.
Nick was able to spend Christmas with his family, but had already declined a lot. Over the next 3 months he became unable to walk or perform any care for himself, sleeping near 22 hours a day, and most recently unable to articulate his words to communicate on some days.
Unfortunately the doctor's in Alaska have exhausted all of their areas of expertise and it was agreed that it was time for Nick to get more extensive and immediate care. The decision was made to transfer him to the Mayo Clinic. Fortunately our daughter Kim lives in MN so we could get her assistance and have a place to stay during any occupational or physical therapy post diagnoses.
Nick had his first appointment at the Mayo Clinic on Tuesday, March 23. Many tests were performed and we hope to have the results of those tests by Friday, March 26. Due to his inability to walk and hold up his own body weight, it was necessary for us to rent a wheelchair accessible van to transport Nick from Brooklyn Park to Rochester, a 2 hour drive, plus daily transports to and from the Mayo Clinic. Because of Covid, hospitals including Mayo have changed their procedures and admittance is discouraged. Instead we will have to stay at a nearby hotel and rent medical equipment like bed lifts, and hoisting mechanisms to care for Nick. A home health care assistant has been prescribed, however they are unable to assist while we are in Rochester, and insurance only pays for 2 days a week, but we need it 7. These are costs we were not expecting when we thought he would be admitted.
The costs are adding up so quickly I barely took notice until I had to take a loan to cover my account. Like most of my close friends and family, asking for help is not something I feel comfortable with, however if it means saving Nick's life, then I find myself at the mercy of those who have it on their heart to help. Nick is a veteran of the United States Air Force, having served 20 yrs including in Vietnam. He also served as sheriff's deputy CO in Minnesota for over 10 years. The man has given all his strength over the years to help others and still would if he had anything left. It is my heart and hope that some may be able to now help serve him.
Before Christmas, Nick and his three grandsons started a carpentry project in his shop that he had hoped to have finished by the New Year, but now it sits in the shop waiting - just like those boys, to have Papa make its finishing touches. I share this to ask; if you can help make that possible it would bring the life we need to our family - Nick's life. All the million dollar tests run thus far say he should be functioning as a healthy 71 year old man, so any donation is not going to a man who is dying, but a man who is trying to live.
Thank you from all of our family for the prayers from afar, to those who have come and laid their hands on Nick for healing and blessed our travels and excursions! That alone is a value far beyond our expectations. If it is on your heart to give financially we are in a position we could use it now. We will need to stay in Rochester possibly another week or more and still need to acquire medical equipment and supplies that we had thought the Mayo Clinic would be assisting us with that typically insurance would cover, but Medicare does not and neither does Tricare. Thank you from our entire family for considering us and Nick in your giving and prayers. God Bless!
Fundraising team (3)
Karen Nichols
Organizer
Wasilla, AK
Kimberly Stuber
Team member
Karen Nichols
Team member