Help John with Medical Recovery

2021 has been a whirlwind of a year for everyone, my brother John especially. Everything became more challenging during the summer months when he first began having issues with his knee. What was initially thought to have been a minor knee issue quickly spiraled into a torn meniscus and a MRSA infection. For those of you who know John, this became especially challenging as he tried to continue doing the things he loves - to work, garden/farm, and enjoy his time with his son, friends, and family.

In the fall, while continuing to recover from his knee issues, more problems were arising. In late September/early October, John was diagnosed with pneumonia after he continued to feel ill and lethargic. He was treated for his pneumonia and was able to recover to some extent, but things didn't get any easier.

In early November John contracted Covid-19 and the side effects became unbearable. He struggled to breathe, with every breath feeling like his lungs were on fire - even while being stationary. Finally, John went to the New Prague Mayo clinic for help. That same day he was transferred to the Mayo Hospital in Red Wing in order to get the care and attention he needed. Thank goodness he did! They ran a plethora of tests while in Red Wing, and discovered he was experiencing one of the worst side-effects from Covid - blood clots in the lungs. Another discovery from the tests at Red Wing Mayo was that John is suffering from a congenital heart disease, a bicuspid aortic valve, which will require surgery to repair or replace the leaky valve.

After spending days in Red Wing, John was able to finish his rest and recovery from home and was given a referral to a cardiologist. Though rest and recovery were far from happening. Shortly after being sent home from Red Wing, John started experiencing back spasms, muscle tightness, continued breathing issues, and trouble sleeping - all of which continued to add stress and strain on his body and heart.

Early December John attended his appointment with the cardiologist where more tests were run and it was discovered that the blood clots turned into fluid in the lungs. This fluid build-up was so great that it was putting stress and strain on his heart - to the point the cardiologist sent him immediately to the ER at Abbott Northwestern for fear of heart failure. John has spent the last five days in the hospital and will continue to be monitored in the hospital for at least another few days. They are working to drain the fluid from his lungs and continue to monitor his heart. As of now, they have drained nearly 3 liters of fluid from his lungs.

During this time, John hasn't been able to work his full schedule. For periods of time during the past few months, John had only been able to work different "light duty" jobs; often only part-time each week. This is a scary time for John and our family. This Go Fund Me is to help John cover some of the medical expenses he is experiencing and will continue to experience, along with helping him get back on his feet to financially care for his home and other financial obligations as he recovers.

Thank you for caring about John, his health, and our family. Thank you, also, for considering sending any donation you may be able to contribute during this holiday season. John, and the rest of our family, greatly appreciate it.