February 26, 2022
My name is Deanna, and I am writing this on behalf of Christi, Felix's partner. She is too frazzled to write an update, so I thought I'd help.
So, I have an update! This is all second-hand from Christi, so bear with me as I try to get this onto “paper.” A lot of this will be direct quotes.
So as it turns out, Piedmont in Atlanta did help my friend Felix. But that’s not the end of the road for them. Christi says, “We’re gonna be stuck in ATL for a while, not only for the port [that needs revision] but they want to do the testing for the LVAD . . . as well as another port or central line.” She adds, “We’ll have gas, hotel, and food expenses. They said he may or may not be hospitalized, but we have to be within a 30 min radius [of Piedmont while all this is happening].” And as one final obstacle for their plans, she writes, “The housing they usually have for us has a waiting list!”
She does have pics of the port that needs a revision, but has decided not to share, as “the pics are gory for some.”
So in light of these updates, Christi has asked me to update Felix’s HelpHopeLive in the hopes that someone out there might be willing to fund this lifesaving trip for Felix. They are leaving tonight, so please don't hesitate!
Stay tuned as their journey continues to unfold. Thanks for reading!
November 5, 2021
We are leaving for the Cleveland Clinic on Saturday, November 6, 2021. It will be the first of two trips. We are going to make several stops along the way to put as little stress on Felix's body as possible, since we know there is a blood clot in his lungs. We still need money for gas, lodging, and food so please donate if you can!
Also, Felix's Help Hope Live page is now verified, so you can donate comfortably, knowing that this is a legitimate campaign.
Thanks everyone!
October 28, 2021
F's partner C says:
Finally got Felix into the Cleveland Clinic (OHIO) FINALLY!!!! We’re still seeking monetary donations for gas cards, food cards, and lodging help (I've spoken with the travel assistant there at the Clinic who help with “Ronald McDonald like places” and they stay booked up for months sometimes a year at a time and COVID has only worsened things) even need some warm clothes (will be working on an Amazon wish list for that) for the trip to the Cleveland Clinic as well as the $2694.25 office visits. He will see 5 diff specialists. His Insurance is out of network therefore he is self pay. Because he’s not an Ohio resident, he cannot get patient assistance. Once he has been seen/established, he then can apply for a financial hardship for future appointments. They POSSIBLY can retroactive the initial appointment cost BUT it’s HIGHLY unlikely and very rarely EVER done unless you’re a pediatric patient. Any labs/X-rays/CT scans will be billed THANK GOODNESS!
4 of his 5 “local” doctor’s think Cleveland Clinic will be the best option medically for him to have any quality of life.
Everything hit the fan medically yesterday. His heart doctor called us in for a STAT appointment (we’re talking do not pass go do not collect $200 get there NIE). His defibrillator picked up some stuff that wasn’t good. Ended up he is now in atrial fibrilation (or showed something about atrial fibrilation). His echo showed his heart is only working at 20% give or take 5%. That’s a decrease of 10-15% since the last echo in March or May. He has an implanted defibrillator (and 3 stents) already, and his battery is only good for another 6.5 yrs. 3 weeks ago he had 7.5 yrs left. Needless to say the defibrillator is doing its job. He was already diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure/Heart disease 10 yrs ago (he’s had 3 heart attacks first one being when he was 28 and is now 38).
I’m not well emotionally or mentally (purely DRAINED) and don’t even really know how I’m functioning, pure adrenaline I guess. Pushing like I did this week getting the run around and the help (finally) showed me just exactly what Granma went through getting care for daddy, Uncle Mike, Granpa, and myself! I got a taste of what she dealt with all those years and as we all know she indeed was a Saint for it. If only I could tell her thank you (again) and tell her I see just how hard and frustrating it was fighting for us BUT she did it. It may or may not have been with Grace and dignity (trust me I wouldn’t have wanted to be the operator on the other end of some calls she’d make LMBO) BUT SHE DID IT and I did too!
Thanks for the prayers needless to say yesterday’s prayer request was about the immediate heart appointment we had to go to and then all of these costs for Cleveland.
Update #2: C had to call EMS and get Felix to the ER due to his heart. He is there now, and they ran some tests and stabilized him. They have him on a nitro drip and heparin drip yet his troponin levels are still high. There are talks of him getting an LVAD (left ventricular assist device), which helps the heart pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.
Update #3:He had heart attack number 4 Sunday. While in the ER and then on the floor he had VTAC episodes (google that at your risk, wishing I never had BUT no one would explain the severity of it to us). He also had a lung scan (prior to the heart catheter) and he probably (more than likely has a blood clot(s) in his lungs. 2 hrs after the lung scan he finally had his catheter. He had 100% blockages. 2 could be fixed but because he has one kidney they couldn’t over load him with contrast to fix the others. That being said he’ll have another catheter soon to add more stents (buy time til we get to Cleveland Clinic). Felix’s only income is SSDI and he literally makes just enough to cover his insurance premium and his copays for doctor’s visits and high medicine costs.
Because of all the heart issues that transpired, i was able to get Felix into the Cleveland Clinic to see the heart doctors there ONLY because it's so emergent. We leave November 9, and we're anticipating a week stay. But because Felix's health is so complicated, we could be leaving sooner rather than later. The gas, hotel stay, food, etc will all cost money, so please consider donating!
October 5, 2021
Please consider helping Felix…We’ve been to Emory only to NOT be helped. A couple of his specialists said his best bet would be Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, Duke, Vandy, Baylor. With Mayo Clinic Jacksonville being the closest that’s the route we’re hoping to take BUT it’s $5k just for him to walk in the door, same way at Vandy. The cheapest and the actual medical place we wanted is the cheapest! To see the 4 or 5 (maybe 6) specialists will be $3,000. We can apply for financial help HOWEVER bc we’re not OHIO residents we’re likely to be disapproved. We were told do NOT let that alter our plans that if Felix is as bad off as we’re saying and once they see his income (or lack there of) he possibly could get the financial help.
We’re seeking help with medical costs so he can be seen, gas, food, and lodging and of course follow ups.
