Posted 4/8/2015 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
In July of 2014 I thought I just had pneumonia but it turned out that it was more than that. On August 4, 2014 I found myself in the emergency room in Ellensburg, Wa because I could not catch my breath and felt horrible. Because their emergency room was full I was transferred to Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle. By the time I reached Virginia Mason my health had taken a turn for the worse. As it turned out I had acute respiratory failure, my heart was only working at 12% and I almost died.
I am a 43 year old who has been married for 23 years with 3 wonderful children. I am a construction worker and have always been in great shape and am very active.
Once I was stabilized at Virginia Mason Hospital I was then transferred to the University of Washington Hospital for treatment. I was diagnosed with a non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, severe left ventricular dysfunction, moderate right ventricular dysfunction and multiple blood clots in both the right and left sides of my heart. During my one month stay in the hospital I was on a ventilator and had an intra-aortic balloon pump placed to help take the stress off my heart. I experienced a stroke from the blood clots that were forming in my heart. Thanks to the love and support of my family and the extensive treatment given in the hospital I was finally released.
Now I am unable to return back to my construction job. I can only walk about 2 blocks with out being out of breath. Every time I bend over I get light headed and almost black out. If I am out in the sun for too long I loose my vision. My memory is horrible, I often forget what I am talking about in the middle of a sentence and I have trouble remembering conversations and even what I did that day. I am now being treated for severe anxiety and depression along with OCD. I have been going through applying for SSDI and just found out that I was denied disability on March 26th. I was told that 70% of people applying for disability are denied regardless of the severity of their disability. I am trying to appeal this decision but it will take some time.
So far I have been out of work for 8 months and we have run out of all our savings. My wife works but does not make enough to support us and pay for the medical bills by herself. Insurance does not pay for all of my treatment. I find myself humbly asking for any support that you may be able offer. Please go to www.gofundme/tjhutchings
Thank you,
Tony Hutchings