Journey of the Heart

SLAP!

Posted on November 7, 2014 | Leave a comment

That was the sound of reality up against my face.

It was suggested to me that I use my Blog as a place to vent and log the journey I am on. I kind of have already been doing that, but a lot of the time I try to keep it a little upbeat. Not having that many good days, so there may be a lot of whining. Please don’t feel the need to respond to everything, I just need to talk it out.

I spent this past week up at Mayo. I went for my bi-weekly visit. It was a series of UP and DOWNS (note the lack of plurality on the UP). I have been battling some major depression lately, Saturday night was a meltdown of EPIC proportions. Worst one yet. But like all the others before it, I am working to move past it.

UP:

I got the approval from the cardiac surgeon to use my shower bag. Which means I will be able to shower. It won’t be easy and it won’t be often, but it will be!!!

DOWN:

I’ve been feeling sick the last week or so and a CT Scan that they took on Tuesday showed the beginning stages of pneumonia in my lungs. Woohoo.

Had to have (1) weekly blood draw (2) had to get an IV (3) had to have blood drawn to do bacterial cultures. Not a happy camper because I am seriously running out of veins for them to roll and blow.

Had to do a basic Oxygen study overnight Tuesday. Discovered that my oxygen drops down below 60 when I am sleeping and rarely makes it above 82 when I am awake. This lead me to the sleep center where I had to be under direct observation for the night while they did a sleep study. When it was all said and done, they determined I had severe sleep apnea. I stopped breathing and average of 61 times an hour. So I will be going to get fitted for my new CPAP.

And my favorite: Someone actually said what I had not heard directly since this all began. “Karen, the sooner you accept the fact that even with the LVAD, you are in ‘End stage heart failure”, the sooner you can start learning to work on your quality of life.

Well, there you go. I know I am sick, I get it, but to hear someone say so bluntly was devastating all over again.

Guilt is a wonderful tool…

Posted on October 14, 2014 | Leave a comment

Bruce Butgereit, left, and Gary Baar discuss plans for the plaque that will be placed on the boulder outside the Dutton Fire Station. (C) Sheila McGrath

I heard from my cousin Pam and she had an update on her brother Gary. They have put him on an EMCO machine to hopefully strengthen and stabilize him for further treatment. I recently posted a plea to help Gary and his family and there has been no response at all. Not one dime! Now, I realize this is not your problem, but here are a few things that I discovered. These are the things people (my facebook friends) are giving their money for.

Please find a little bit and help my family, we all help others and I am asking you to help my family. Actually I am begging. If this offends anyone, I apologize, but my family needs help.

Help Revolutionary CeCe McDonald! $7,376 of 10k

Ashoka Mukpo – Fight Against Ebola $50,289 of 100k (went over there WILLINGLY to cover story.

Ecigs. Our right not to smoke Tobacco. $75,678 of 100k

Gary Baar, owner of Cook’s in Dutton, holds a tray of coney dogs and hot dogs on Tuesday, March 27, where Mlive’s Todd Chance and John Serba stopped in search for the best, authentic coney dog in Grand Rapids. (Emily Zoladz | Mlive.com)

Let’s Raise Money for Pete! $2,311 of $3,000 (Pete is a dog)

Star’s Fight against the Blackhole $2,590 of $5,000 (a cat)

Help Launch Kilted Bros. Kilts! $2,262 of $3,450

Bite Back! Save the Bark Bar! $2,617 of 25k

Help Open Delicious Surprise $9,575 of 10k

Help Me Help My Cousin

Posted on October 11, 2014 | Leave a comment

I would like to do something I never do. I would like to ask you for money. Not me, but my cousin. You can read his story below. If you know anything about me, you know I don’t do these things lightly, and you know that I have been there. My family REALLY needs your help. Gary and his wife have a business they are unable to run at the moment. They need to move when Gary gets out f the hospital because he won’t be able to get up and down the stairs. There are so many other things.

It is horribly overwhelming. I know you don’t know my cousin, but you know me and you know that for me to do this, it must be important. No matter how little you can help, every dollar goes a bit more toward making their lives more bearable. Please, have a heart so Gary can get a heart.

And if you are interested, every person who donates to this fund, I will send you one of my eBooks as a thank you.

A lot of people have been asking what ways they can donate to help with Gary & Char’s expenses.

Website http://www.gofundme.com/fadkt4
Cooks – Donations can be left at Cooks
(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cooks-Hot-Dogs-Drive-In-Dutton-Mi/315909765173913)

Checks – Make payable to Char Baar and mail to Cooks at 6874 Hammond Ave SE, Dutton MI 49316.
Paypal – send payments to pmsnds@bellsouth.net
Any amount donated – whether it be $5.00 or $500.00, in the end it all adds up.

A note from Gary’s son, Josh:

On Saturday, September 28th, our father Gary Baar suffered a heart attack and was taken to Meijer Heart Center in Grand Rapids. In the intensive care unit, he improved through the week then suffered cardiac arrest on September 30. After 11 minutes the amazing doctors and nurses were able to bring him back to life.

He is on life support and beginning to stabilize. He does not have insurance and too young to be on Medicare. He is a veteran and has coverage at VA hospitals. The short term procedure that needs to be done is a heart surgery to implant a VAD (ventricular assist device). Basically, it’s a pump that forces his heart to beat. Once his body stabilizes further he can proceed with a heart transplant. The road to recovery will be very long and minimum hospital stay of three weeks, possibly several months.

The VA hospital will not cover the procedure at Meijer Heart Center. They want him transferred to the VA in Madison, WI. The transfer is long and risky and we do not understand why the VA will not error on the side of caution and let Meijer Heart do the procedure. From what we’ve been told the VA does not want to pay another hospital for the procedure.

We are not asking for donations to assist with the procedure since we have an option to get it done in Wisconsin. However, accomodations for our family will be extensive.

Our family is seeking prayers and monetary support that can be offered to help us with travel and accommodations in Wisconsin. The hospital there does not offer anything for us.

Our mom and dad live in Grand Rapids. Dad, a military veteran, and retired from Steelcase, has been very involved in the community. He built a WW2 memorial in Dutton, MI for those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice but never recognized in the local community. His community outreach and involvement doesn’t stop there. He has been awarded the city’s person of the year for other generous donations and community help, and now is on the committee to select the person of the year.

We will update everyone on his condition and progress in the coming days and weeks. All donations will be used to offset uncovered medical expenses in Grand Rapids and ensure our family can remain by his side in Wisconsin to facilitate in his recovery. Any leftover funds will be donated to community programs my father was involved in. Thanks in advance for any help.

Also, if anyone knows or has any contacts at the VA hospital (Madison, WI) or at the State level we are trying to push them to cover the procedure at Meijer Heart. They are being difficult about that and want to do it at their hospital. The transfer is very risky and they can approve it to be done here but they keep saying no. We need someone there to give the approval to have it done here in Grand Rapids.