Support Troy’s battle in Iowa City ICU

On Monday, February 3, 2024, my brother, Troy Tessendorf, was sent to the emergency room after going to a doctor appointment for his back pain. Troy was having weakness on his right side, and the doctors feared he had a minor stroke. As Troy was seen in the emergency room at the hospital, they began treating him as such, doing CT scans, MRIs, and other tests. As the night progressed, Troy developed a high fever, and the doctors turned their focus to a possible infection of some kind.

Tuesday morning, Troy was unconscious, so they intubated him and sedated him. They started testing and treating for any possible infections they could think of. With multiple scans, blood panels, and fluid panels, they still had no idea what was causing his symptoms. Finally, Tuesday evening, a bed opened up in the ICU in Iowa City. Troy was flown by helicopter to Iowa City, and I drove his wife, Beth, out there.

Once in the ICU in Iowa City, the teams of doctors got right to work. Troy has been seen by infectious disease teams, neurological teams, and respiratory teams, and had multiple scans, blood panels, fluid panels, and other tests.

Troy has remained sedated and intubated for the time being. The doctors have found lesions on Troy’s brain and spinal area. Troy has developed blood clots and is getting treatment for them now.

Troy is a hardworking, loving husband and father. His wife, Beth, has not left his side throughout this terrible time. He has two girls that absolutely adore him. Troy is the primary income for his family and has been out of work since the middle of January with excruciating back pain, and now with the racking up medical bills, travel expenses to and from Iowa City, and care for his young daughters, I am asking for donations of any kind to help this wonderful man and his family with their expenses.