Taken from the
HANDCRAFTED AUCTION SITE:
"In mid February, Shaun started having a lot of chest pain. He went to the hospital was air lifted to Billings, MT. after 5 days there they let him out. They had cleared the pneumonia a felt his heart fluid would go down. Less than 2 weeks later back to hospital, then sent home. A week later, back (in hospital) again and he was airlifted to Kalispell, they put a balloon pump in his heart said he had a virus and air flighted him to Seattle. They worked with him there about a week and his heart numbers improved and (he) felt like he was on the mend. (In the beginning, they thought he had a mono virus that hit the heart.) In Seattle they said no, that it was it is a very rare virus and usually in young people and 70% fatal.
He was home less than 2 weeks again and then back to hospital, was air lifted back to Seattle, this time he was in heart failure. They put a different pump on him and had him lay in induced coma to keep him still for about 5 days. They had to get his liver and kidneys working again as they were shutting down. They did another echo on Sunday, 6th of May, to see possibly if part of his heart could support a ventricular pump. It could not. Yesterday, on May 7th, they put in a mechanical heart.
He has to stay in the hospital for probably about 3 months and then should be able to get out and stay in a place his mom will rent. He has to stay in Seattle. Then he will stay there until a donor heart becomes available. They figure another 6 months to a year, then he will be in hospital again for a couple months.
If you have any questions feel free to ask I have probably missed something here. my mind is a boggle. But, I am so thankful to God for getting him thru this surgery and now off the ventilator. Prayers from all over have helped get him through this. There will be many hills and valleys, but with the help of God, he will get through it. He is only 34 years old so he could live a long time if everything goes right. His air flights alone have been over $40,000 as he had to have 5 nurses on board for the last two."
Shaun is a police officer with two young children. PLEASE find it in your
healthy heart to help!
UPDATE!!: (FROM SHAUN)
May 11th: UPDATE!!: (FROM SHAUN'S SISTER) via Shaun's grandmother.
Update on Shaun: For all those that are following his story
Lavetta Collier
To all my Friends and family on facebook, that have been praying for Shaun and asking about what caused this. this is my daughters post. The biopsey came back today and it was as they thought. it is a interesting and scarey read.
Charlene K Guffin
So we have a name for what Shaun mad his heart go awry. So for all you "search the internet junkies" look up Giant Cell Myocarditis. (Just remember information is relative to the sight you get it from and not all applies to every person). It is a very rare disease that affects mainly young people. The cause is basically unknown. The end treatment, if caught, is a heart transplant. If not caught...well we won't go there. We were blessed to make it to Seattle in time for Shaun to have a chance at life.
The doctors are happy with how he is doing and they will soon start the workup process to get him onto the transplant list. Also to my family and friends who are working so hard on the benefits and gathering donations, please know how much you are loved appreciated. To all those who are praying, I can't not thank you enough as I believer prayer had everything to do with having Shaun here now.
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I AM SO HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS EFFORT! PLEASE CHECK OUT THE BEAUTIFUL ITEMS UP FOR BIDS!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!??
Can you imagine the heart of a mom, knowing that her son has lost his heart?
Giant Cell Myocarditis
Giant cell myocarditis is a rare cardiovascular disorder that occurs for unknown reasons (idiopathic). It is characterized by inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium), a condition referred to as myocarditis. Inflammation is caused by widespread infiltration of giant cells associated with other inflammatory cells and heart muscle cell destruction. Giant cells are abnormal masses produced by the fusion of inflammatory cells called macrophages. Individuals with giant cell myocarditis may develop abnormal heartbeats, chest pain and, eventually, heart failure. Many individuals eventually require a heart transplant. The disorder most often occurs in young adults.
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Shaun is now my 'friend' on Facebook, I was so thrilled that he accepted my friendship. I just wanted to tell him as personally as I could, without me traveling across the country, that I care and that many people truly care about him. It's an unbelievable feeling, to help someone you don't know but still feel a 'connection' to. I cannot explain it, nor do I need to, it just is.
I will say that perhaps it's because I have a son, an only child, he is not much older than Shaun. He is an awesome man and father and I am unbelievably proud of him! He has gone through so much adversity, he continues to struggle as we all do in this crazy world, with two growing sons and daily struggles.
My heart was touched so deeply when I saw the smile on Shaun's face with his little girl, just so endearing!
Shaun Guffin and his daughter, Allyson
Truly, Shaun's mom is super-duper more than happy because of the fact that doctor's and nurses were able to save Shaun's life! He is eligible for a heart transplant for two different blood types, that's got to be a great thing too! Better chances are BETTER!!
THANK YOU, to all of you who gave a moment of your time to at least view the auction, those of you who bid and those of you who spread the word! Blessings! Happy Mother's Day!
