THE GREAT FOWLER
Jay (aka @thegreatfowler) was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation* on January 14th, 2020. After spending nineteen days (19) in ICU/Hospital, cardiologist determined he must have had A-Fib for 5 years due to the severity. With an ejection fraction of only 10% (the amount of blood pumped out of a heart’s lower chambers each time it contracts), Jay was not expected to live. After discharging 45 pounds of toxic fluid during that initial visit, Jay has fought through homelessness, eviction and numerous ER/ICU/hospital stays
*Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is an irregular heart rhythm that begins in your heart’s upper chambers (atria). Symptoms include fatigue, heart palpitations, trouble breathing and dizziness.
If you would like to help Jay's 'quality of life', please consider the following links
But PLEASE ... do not do anything you can not do affordably
DONATION LINKS
NEWLY ADDED PAYPAL - TheJayFund@gmail.com
(Note PayPal is not under my name, but I will get it)
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CHECK OUT A LENGTHY ARTICLE ON MY JOURNEY - HERE
RECORDED A STAR-STUDDED PODCAST ON 02/04/23 - HERE
&
A GO FUND ME STARTED ON 02/06/23 - HERE
RECENT NEWS:
09/20/23-10/13/23: Three recent BP spikes of over 200/140 means I have to fund-raise to see a specialist.
$600 in Uber/Lyft cost needed
09/20/23-09/21/23: ER/Hospital stay
09/15/23-09/18/23: ER/ICU stay with shock procedure
08/01/23-08/23/23: Various procedures/operations/hospital visits
06/01/23 - 07/25/23: Another fundraiser fell through. Another ER visit and hospital and fundraising for another procedure.
05/01/23: After a promised fundraiser was cancelled, I am fundraising to cover cost to see a specialist 3 hours away. Thank you if you are donating
02/01/23 - 04/30/23: Various hospital/ER visits
01/31/23: Almost passed after being unconscious for 11 hours after getting severe heart pains
01/16/23: Red tape with SSI/Disability holding up my only avenue of income
01/14/23: Celebrating three years since my dire diagnosis and first time (of many) ER/ICU visits
12/31/22: Day #10 of second viral infection, but it was a hospital free month
12/01/22: Day #14 of viral infection
11/04/22-11/09/22: 5 day hospital stay including ICU
10/15/22-10/19/22: 5 day hospital stay
09/08/22: After THREE hospital stays in 5 weeks ...
Fundraising to try to see heart specialist in Wayne NJ (3 hrs away) for Ubers and hotel
NEWLY ADDED PAYPAL - TheJayFund@gmail.com
(Note PayPal is not under my name, but I will get it)
08/16/22 - 08/19/22: Another ICU stay begins/ends
08/10/22: After last hospital stay (cost) insurance now covers ENTRESTO
08/07/22: Heading to ER for another hospital stay
08/03/22: Found out that my insurance STILL will not cover the cost of ENTRESTO (the med I need to survive). Out of pocket cost is $500-1000 monthly (which I obviously do not have)
07/01/22-07/30/22: Various ER/Hospital/Specialist (across NJ) visits
06/04/22: SSI cutting off my disability - DETAILS HERE
05/05/22: Finished 4 day hospital stay in Galloway, NJ (lost consciousness for 4 hours)
04/30/22: Found out by mail that my only form of income is suspended (due to review). SSI is no longer paying me my ONLY source of income until a hearing/judgment on my case.
04/29/22: Brief ER stay
04/03/22: Back in hospital
02/28/22: Will be homeless on 04/01 unless money is raised.
01/24/22: Received and wearing Life Alert necklace
01/20/22: Released after two days in ICU
01/12/22: Involved in getting a .pdf card of gratitude to Kenny Omega
01/05/22: Wearing a heart monitor
01/01/22: HAPPY NEW YEAR
I made it another year!!!!
12/30/21: Left hospital after a 5 day stay
12/04/21: NEWLY ADDED PAYPAL - TheJayFund@gmail.com
Week of 11/28-12/3 - Two ER/Hospital stays
11/14/21: ER visit and released
10/30/21: Still waiting on my October Disability check ... red tape BS
I have a PCP appt. on 11/9 and a Cardio appt. on 11/11.
Both will dictate what my life will be like moving forward
WEEK OF 10/4 - 10/9
Disability re-instated
Healthy enough to go to Philly (AEW) and AC (GCW)
Thanks to everyone that helped with travel, hotel, expenses
09/22/21-09/28/21: ER/ICU/Hospital stay
08/31/21: Email from PayPal refusing to release my funds is HERE
08/27/21: Signed myself out of ICU/Hospital so I can rest from home
with less stress
08/25/21: Returned to ICU
08/12/21: Released from hospital
08/10/21: Back in hospital due to financial stress
07/29/21: Four days in ICU
07/25/21: BPM is 135-148. Bags packed for ER
07/24/21: A CASHAPP is active
07/22/21: A VENMO is active
07/21/21: PAYPAL CLOSED MY DONATION ACCOUNT
Looking for alternatives
(07/02/21): Released from hospital and on bed-rest after a heart
procedure (with minor complications)
(06/15/21): DISABILITY TAKEN AWAY
(06/14/21): Plethora of test and heart procedure scheduled for June 28-30th.
It is at a hospital 3 hrs away due to specialist
(06/09/21): A fundraising update on Twitter
(04/27/21): 6 months from my dire diagnoses and headed into overtime!
(04/20/21): I WAS FINALLY AWARDED DISABILITY
(03/31/21): Health update - HERE
(03/17/21): Might be losing Medicare due to "donations" being
"income". Had to re-file
I am getting really sick (pun) of this
(03/11/21): Found housing for April 15th and beyond but I do not have
the money needed to secure the apartment...
(03/10/21): Still NO DISABILITY
(03/07/21): Two days in ICU (Shore Medical Center)
(02/14/21): Still NO DISABILITY
Feeling OK, but exhausted due to energy it takes to breath and have a
heart-beat (only 10% works)
(01/05/21): I am no longer getting help from social services
(food/cash) due to the donation help I received.
Sadly I was getting more in donations so I thank EVERYONE, but going
forward it will be tough
ANYBODY HIT THE LOTTO RECENTLY?
(12/29/20): Hospitalized/ER again, but this time nothing dire. Just
deteriorating.
(12/17/20): Hospitalized/ER/ICU again, but this time due to Lactic Acidosis
(12/15/20): DISABILITY STILL NOT APPROVED
Watch I get the approval a day before I pass
(12/07/20): Recorded a podcast that talks bout my situation, the
online wrestling community as well as many other topics
(10/28/20): After a long conversation with my cardiologist, it looks
like my end is a reality within 3-6 months ...
(10/19/20): After passing out on 10/12, I spent last seven days in
ICU/hospital (including my birthday)
Good news is I made it to another birthday.
Christmas is next milestone!
(10/04/20): Spent last three days in hospital due to breathing issues
and chest pains.
Current partial diagnoses: Asthma , Severe Pulmonary Arterial Systolic
Hypertension, Ischemic Hepatitis, Abdominal Hernia, Shortness Of
Breath, Atrial Fibrillation , Cad (nonobstructive), Cardiomyopathy,
Dilated, Nonischemic
(09/24/20): Adjusted meds and blanked out THREE TIMES. Back to former
usage (even though I am regressing)
(09/17/20): Now that I am situated. I am looking for:
1: A volunteer position with a charity (suicide prevention would be
great) where I can use my recent experience to help others.
2: A PT paid position where I can work from home on my computer
(09/15/20): Moved to Margate City, NJ on an 8-month winter lease.
Until I get approved for disability (fighting it) I have no idea how I
can afford anything, but ...
(09/06/20): Just spent 61hrs in hospital with head trauma.
No sign of concussion/whiplash, but I was "loopy" for several days and
must walk very slow the next week
On new pain med 'Tramadol'
(09/03/20): New med (Multaq) kicked my ass .. almost literally.
I had severe stomach pains, violent diarrhea and fainted twice.
First faint had me crash into a heavy shelving unit and bruise and
scrape a whole side of my face.
So procedures tomorrow are off because they wanted me on the new med to do it.
(09/01/20): Covid test and new meds start on 09/02.
5th and 6th Heart Procedures sched for 09/04
(08/29/20): Reaching out to charities/causes with the offer of using
my story as a way to help others.
FINGERS CROSSED
(08/24/20): DISABILITY DENIED AGAIN
Must go to court (whenever that is)
(08/16/20): Due to sub-standard living conditions and bipolar landlord
I am forced to move on 9/15.
Thankfully I found somewhere that will help lower my stress levels
(07/23/20): 5th heart procedure of 2020 is resched for September
Cardiac Ablation is the procedure.
(07/03/20): Billed $3k for last ambulance ride (4 miles) - LINK
(06/26/20): I was rushed by ambulance to hospital on 6/24/20 and
expected to have my 5th heart procedure of 2020, but the team and I
decided to wait a few weeks to get some levels in a better situation.
(06/17/20): Cardiologist appointment. Heart procedures did not stick,
so reversed back (as expected).
I have another cardio appt. on 6/25
(06/15/20): DISABILITY = DENIED
I found out today that dying is not a disability and that I have to
get a Lawyer while I live in poverty the remaining 9 months of my
life!
(06/09/20): Started regressing again, so it looks like the procedures
did not take. If I do not go to ER prior, I have an appointment on
6/17.
Still fighting for Disability, Un-Employment and waiting/fighting for
my Stimulus check
(06/01/20): The two heart procedures I had today were successful.
I am still at 10% operational heart and still dire, but hopefully this
will stop my regression.
(05/16/20): Two heart procedures scheduled for 06/01/20
(05/09/20): Turned down by Disability
(the only way I can survive since I cannot work due to my health/heart)
(04/18/20): Still fighting over prescription cost
(04/08/20): After an ER visit, I was given 9-12 months
(03/24/20): Cardiologist letter on my behalf explaining my dire/life
threatening conditions (dated March 10th).
(03/19/20): Self-quarantined due to having all the COVID-19 symptoms
(03/09/20): Billed $33k for ONE of three hospital stays
(03/07/20): Social Services screwed me of at least TWO months of
assistance I was scheduled to receive
(03/01/20): On 1/14/20 I was rushed to hospital at 2am.
I was not able to breath and had chest/heart pain.
Within hours I had medical teams (yes plural) and found myself in ICU.
I was not expected to live
The next 19 days I was in hospital.
During that time I found I had A-Fib (Atrial fibrillation) and was
operating with only 10% of my heart
After various test/procedures I left hospital in same condition on
2/1/20 ... 10% heart functionality.
I lost 45 pounds of water weight (toxic fluid) within a week and that
was a life-saver
I was giving medication that made me breath and kept my heart from
getting worse ... MAINTAINING.
I cannot walk 1/4 mile without resting twice and any travel wipes me out.
But I want to state I am fighting the good fight.
Due to the health situation and being hospitalized I lost my income.
I also had my Medicaid denied due to a clerical error (nobody told me)
The hospital applied for emergency Medicaid for me (so they can get
paid) but I still yet to receive my actual personal Medicaid (end of
March/April is earliest)
I was lucky enough to get scripts from hospital and a one-time supply
from Walgreen through Medicaid.
Then ...
On 2/25, I was back in an ambulance headed to hospital due to what I
found was a viral infection.
Every cough ... every sneeze made my heart skip and caused heart/chest pain.
I had it 3 days prior but it got so bad I had to call an ambulance.
During that second stay, I found that every cough or sneeze could be
dire ... yes ... DEATH FROM SNEEZING was a possibility.
I was released on 2/28.
Now if that was not fun enough ...
In this time I find I can no longer get ANY meds through Medicaid and
my efforts for financial help from the State of New Jersey have been a
huge struggle to say the least.
I applied for things (financial help, disability, Medicaid) all
through February and received ZERO (so far).
Between the usual delays, mistakes, red-tape, etc I find myself
without meds and facing eviction on 3/15/20.
A Twitter friend suggested I reach out for help ... I HATE THIS
but it is me in survival mode.
There is a lot more I can go on with, but you get the idea.
I will be back in hospital by 3/10/20 due to running out of meds the day before.
I will be doing that weekly until assistance kicks in, but ...
I WILL BE EVICTED ON MARCH 15th first and have nowhere to recoup.
IF ... IF you can help without hurting your situation I thank you
If you cannot but wish me well I thank you
If you read this whole thing I thank you
TO THE DOCTORS AND MEDICAL STAFF THAT SAVED MY LIFE ... I THANK YOU
In closing ... THANK YOU
ThankYou
