Welcome to our CaringBridge website for Danny. We are using this to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting! His History: On December 23, 2016 Danny was hospitalized with a Saddle Pulmonary Embolism blocking both lungs. An emergency surgical procedure done to clear blockage. Doctors found that his IVC filter was broken and needed to be removed. An additional surgery was done to remove it but 3 pieces of the filter broke off and are still in his body, but not in life threatening places at this time. Throughout early 2017 he was hospitalized 5 times due to continued breathing and heart issues. Found that only 10-20% blood return from lower extremities was the problem. Causing lowered heart function and swelling in lower body. In July, 2017 a surgical procedure done to remove clots from iliac veins and renal vein. 9 stents placed to help reconstruct the veins. In September, 2017 he was hospitalized again with poor oxygen levels and poor blood flow. Swelling returning to legs and abdominal area. Multiple scans and procedures were done with little improvement over the next few months. In January 2018 he was diagnosed with CTEPH (Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension). 14 or more blockages in the lungs causing poor flow of oxygenated blood to body. His health was steadily declining at this point. His case was sent to Duke medical center and was turned down due to the severity of his case.
In March, 2018 his records were sent to a surgical team at Allegheny Medical Center and they accepted his case and decided he was a candidate for PTE (Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy) Surgery. PTE Surgery is a procedure where the chest is opened, and the patient is put on heart and lung bypass. The clots are then surgically removed from the lungs. It is a risky procedure, but the surgeons feel that the outcome outweighs the risks for Danny at this point. His surgery is Scheduled for April 18th, 2018. He will be admitted into the hospital on Monday April 16th for final angiogram of his heart and meet the surgical team on the 17th. He will be in PA for 2-3 weeks post-surgery in cardiac ICU. He will be unable to talk for a few days since he will be on a breathing machine and will be quite out of it I am sure. Once he returns to Georgia, he will have a long road to full recovery.
I will be with Danny on his flight to PA and staying with him during surgery. I will be keeping everyone updated on his progress through this page with updates as I get them. I know many of you have asked what you can do to help. A friend of the family has set up a GoFundme site to help him with expenses while he is out of work. The link is on the "Ways to Help" area of this page. And as always, prayers are greatly appreciated!!! God Bless!
Today is Friday, May 5th and Danny is hard at work with physical therapy with the staff at Allegheny. While he did have a couple set backs including a fall and a bleed that required a surgical repair, he is back on his feet and doing well! He is on track to fly home Saturday and we are very thankful! Your well-wishes and prayers have been so appreciated and no doubt have played a major role in his recovery. Danny will be unable to drive/work for up to 6 weeks as he continues to heal and will have in-home physical therapy for the next several weeks. Thank you again for your support and look for the next update to be from Danny, once he has had time to settle in at home.. If you are able and looking for a way to assist with some of the expenses incurred along with loss of wages, feel free to click on the "Ways to Help" section of this site...i know several of you have asked. God bless!
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