Help Michael King to get a life saving operation

I’m starting this fundraiser for my partner and soul mate, Michael King, who urgently needs an operation to remove blood clots from his lungs to save his life.  Mike is from Barbados and therefore not entitled to free NHS treatment.

Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge is the only place in the UK, and one of only four in the world, who offer this surgery and we are thrilled that Mike is medically eligible for this operation.

We have already used up our savings on tests, hospital stays and his treatment, which needs to continue until Mike gets the surgery so we need help towards raising the money for the operation which is in excess of £60,000.

Mike is a family man and has a passion for life and things close to his heart such as his two amazing sons, his work, his music and his island.  His sons, Daniel and Thomas, are both at university and Mike would like nothing better than to be around to see the impact they have in their chosen fields of computer science and quantum and astrophysics. 

Being a taxi driver and able to show people around his beloved country is Mike’s idea of heaven!  He is so enthusiastic about sharing Bajan history and its culture that many of his customers end up becoming friends. Look up his reviews on Trip Advisor –  Mikesmaxitaxi  - and you’ll see what a genuinely lovely guy he is.  He has been unable to work for almost a year now and he misses it terribly.

A talented musician, Mike has played bass in several bands over the years, some of them on cruise ships.  Sadly, he hasn’t got the energy now to pick up his guitar even for pleasure, and has passed it to his sons until he has had the operation and has recovered enough to play again. 

Mike’s medical problems came to a head almost 4 years ago when he started coughing up blood whilst in the UK.  After 8 days of tests in hospital, CTEPH (chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension) was diagnosed.  It’s a quite rare condition and is due to blood clots and scar tissue in the lungs, which blocks the blood flow resulting in heart failure.

Over the next couple of years, Mike began to slowly deteriorate, finding it more and more difficult to do normal physical activities, although he persevered for as long as he could with his work that he loves so much.  During this time, we researched his condition and found this incredible operation (Pulmonary Endarterectomy) was available. You may have seen it on British TV recently –Surgeons at the edge of life. 

Not everyone with CTEPH is suitable for the operation and while we were awaiting the outcome of a series of tests, Mike was rushed into hospital three times with such dangerously low oxygen levels that he was at high risk of a cardiac arrest.  He is left with extreme breathlessness, even when resting.

Despite all of this, Mike has stayed positive and cheerful but it’s a reality that without this surgery, he will continue to deteriorate until his heart completely fails.   

A huge thank you to everyone who has helped us in many ways already and to all of those who have asked when we are setting up this fund.  We are aware that this is the worst possible time to ask for help, with the whole world in a desperate situation, but if anyone could spare just a couple of pounds or do something fun and safe to fundraise, it would make all the difference to us  – you’ll be helping to give Mike his life back to enjoy with his family, friends and the travellers he’s yet to meet.

Many, many thanks in anticipation.  We’ll keep you updated on Mike’s progress.