Silo Recover from Open Heart Surgery

Our dear friend Silo (or Nsilo depending on what year you met him!) was faced with the toughest battle of his life less than a month ago. After being diagnosed and treated for pericarditis five months ago, Silo was told the issue had been resolved. However, a couple of months later, Silo continued to experience severe chest pains and difficulty breathing. He and his wife, Joanna, went in for a checkup at the family’s doctor and they were immediately sent to the ER. As a generally healthy 34-year-old, what unfolded next would not only surprise him and his loved ones but change Silo's life forever.

In the ER at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Silo saw several doctors. After they consulted with each other, they soon realized this was a life-threatening issue. His pericardium, the sac around the heart, was full of fluid causing immense pressure on his heart. To Silo and Joanna’s amazement, within four hours of arriving, he was rushed into a first procedure to try to drain the fluid, but that was not enough. His oxygen levels were low and his heart rate was alarmingly high, so the doctors decided to admit him to ICU for further observation.

After a multitude of medical tests and three scary nights, he was diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis, which meant his pericardium was thickened and squeezing on the heart. The doctors told him that his only choice was to remove the pericardium entirely via a procedure called a pericardiectomy, an uncommon operation. This required open heart surgery wherein they would cut through his sternum, remove the sac, and reconnect his sternum. This is not something Silo could have imagined happening to him as a result of the health issues he was experiencing a week earlier.

Thankfully, the surgery went well. The surgeon said his pericardium was extremely nasty but underneath he found “a beautiful heart.” Our friend Silo is now on his road to recovery - one that will take about three months. He has received an incredible amount of support from his family and friends, but he needs our help. As you know, Silo has never been one to ask for help, so we are taking matters into our own hands. Silo is self-insured, and even with a negotiated discount, he faces a six-figure medical bill from his time at the hospital. This has added a lot of stress to the situation and the last thing he needs to be doing is stressing.

We kindly ask that you please join us in helping Silo. With medical bills this large, no donation is too small. We will be sharing updates on how Silo is doing, so stay tuned. Thank you in advance for your support!