Support for Kanzia Family due to COVID-19
Donation protected
Allow me to tell you about my husband Matt. We have been married since August 7th, 1999, and we have 3 beautiful children. Matt works very hard to take care of his family, and always does everything he can to help out those in need. He is a loving husband, proud father, as well as an amazing brother and beloved son to his family.
Over the last month, Matt and our family have been struck by the COVID virus, and the effects have been devastating, to his health as well as our family. We have sustained hardships due to his absence, and we want to share our story and ask for any help that the GoFundMe community can offer in this time of need.
On Saturday, February 13th, Matt was taken by ambulance to Rush Copley hospital in Aurora, IL at 2:30 a.m. due to the fact that he was having trouble breathing. He was tested and they found him to be COVID positive, and immediately put him on oxygen. His vital sign started to look good, they gave him the Remdesevir vaccine for COVID positive patients, and we were hoping that things would progress positively from there. They soon learned that his lungs needed to be treated, and he was seen by and infectious disease doctor. His oxygen level dropped to around 60% and wavered between that and 70%, so they had to keep him on oxygen. They also began administering Decadron, a steroid medication for pneumonia.
On the 17th, he received Tocilizumab, a rheumatoid arthritis medication that has been known to improve outcomes for patients severely affected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. While on a CPAP machine, he was required to have it on the highest level, where his levels dropped to around 80%.
He also started complaining about abdominal pains, and was taken to the ICU on the 18th to keep a close eye on him. On the 19th, we learned he was being administered morphine for pain, and without the CPAP his oxygen levels would drop significantly.
On the evening of the 20th, his levels dropped again and he was intubated. They did a CT scan of his lungs and abdomen, and he required emergency surgery due to a hole in his small intestine. They were able to repair it, and he was taken back to ICU, and given a blood transfusion.
On the 21st, Matt was put on kidney dialysis, due to a lack of function. Doctors suggested he be put on ECMO, which is also known as extracorporeal life support (ECLS), is an extracorporeal technique of providing prolonged cardiac and respiratory support to persons whose heart and lungs are unable to provide an adequate amount of gas exchange or perfusion to sustain life (Thank you Wikipedia). Unfortunately, Rush was unable to accommodate this procedure.
On the 24th, Matt was transferred to the University of Chicago hospital, where he could receive ECMO treatment. He arrived at 5a.m., and was taken into surgery to have ECMO done for his lungs at 3p.m.
Since then, we have seen more positive improvement, but there is a long road ahead. Matt is currently on ECMO, dialysis and a ventilator. The doctors say he may need to be on dialysis permanently, and they are talking about doing a tracheotomy, and possibly a lung transplant.
We are all praying for Matt to get better so that he can finally get back home to his family. This has been so hard for all of us, and we appreciate anything that this community can do for our family. We will keep everyone updated as to Matt’s progress, and thank you in advance for your donations and prayers! God Bless!
Over the last month, Matt and our family have been struck by the COVID virus, and the effects have been devastating, to his health as well as our family. We have sustained hardships due to his absence, and we want to share our story and ask for any help that the GoFundMe community can offer in this time of need.
On Saturday, February 13th, Matt was taken by ambulance to Rush Copley hospital in Aurora, IL at 2:30 a.m. due to the fact that he was having trouble breathing. He was tested and they found him to be COVID positive, and immediately put him on oxygen. His vital sign started to look good, they gave him the Remdesevir vaccine for COVID positive patients, and we were hoping that things would progress positively from there. They soon learned that his lungs needed to be treated, and he was seen by and infectious disease doctor. His oxygen level dropped to around 60% and wavered between that and 70%, so they had to keep him on oxygen. They also began administering Decadron, a steroid medication for pneumonia.
On the 17th, he received Tocilizumab, a rheumatoid arthritis medication that has been known to improve outcomes for patients severely affected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. While on a CPAP machine, he was required to have it on the highest level, where his levels dropped to around 80%.
He also started complaining about abdominal pains, and was taken to the ICU on the 18th to keep a close eye on him. On the 19th, we learned he was being administered morphine for pain, and without the CPAP his oxygen levels would drop significantly.
On the evening of the 20th, his levels dropped again and he was intubated. They did a CT scan of his lungs and abdomen, and he required emergency surgery due to a hole in his small intestine. They were able to repair it, and he was taken back to ICU, and given a blood transfusion.
On the 21st, Matt was put on kidney dialysis, due to a lack of function. Doctors suggested he be put on ECMO, which is also known as extracorporeal life support (ECLS), is an extracorporeal technique of providing prolonged cardiac and respiratory support to persons whose heart and lungs are unable to provide an adequate amount of gas exchange or perfusion to sustain life (Thank you Wikipedia). Unfortunately, Rush was unable to accommodate this procedure.
On the 24th, Matt was transferred to the University of Chicago hospital, where he could receive ECMO treatment. He arrived at 5a.m., and was taken into surgery to have ECMO done for his lungs at 3p.m.
Since then, we have seen more positive improvement, but there is a long road ahead. Matt is currently on ECMO, dialysis and a ventilator. The doctors say he may need to be on dialysis permanently, and they are talking about doing a tracheotomy, and possibly a lung transplant.
We are all praying for Matt to get better so that he can finally get back home to his family. This has been so hard for all of us, and we appreciate anything that this community can do for our family. We will keep everyone updated as to Matt’s progress, and thank you in advance for your donations and prayers! God Bless!
Organizer
Anna Kanzia
Organizer
Oswego, IL