This is a fundraiser for my son Tim Metcalf to help with medical expenses as a result of lengthy hospital stays in two (possibly three) hospitals with multiple surgeries to be followed by home health and outpatient care. In addition, funds are needed to cover travel and lodging for family members to drive from North Carolina to South Carolina to be with him and for bills and groceries while he remains out of work.
This story started last winter when Tim dropped firewood on his leg. After three trips to the ER at Advent Health in Hendersonville, he was admitted to their ICU on 8/13/23 with atypical (walking) pneumonia and severe cellulitis, then developed atrial fibrillation (aFib) that first night. After five days of worsening conditions, he had a midnight surgery with six incisions to open and clean the blistering tissues and necrotizing fasciitis. They installed drain lines and two wound vacs. A few hours later he was transported and admitted to Greenville General Hospital ICU (GGH) in Greenville SC for more intense wound care.
At GGH, Tim has had three more surgeries with wound cleansing and drain tube & wound vac changes. Other highlights of his time at GGH included his oxygen dropping to 68% due to his sleep apnea and developing a rash due to an allergic reaction to one of his antibiotics. His care has been further complicated since he has long-Covid (he almost died in September 2021 from Covid Pneumonia) and he takes a blood thinner. On 8/23/23, Tim was moved to a regular room and no longer needed antibiotics. During the third surgery on 8/24/23, they closed/stitched the two wounds on the thigh with only the lower wounds draining to a single vac.
Next steps:
The #1 issue as of 8/24/23 is his remaining four open wounds that still require a vac. We know there will be at least one more surgery to cleanse and close those wounds.
The #2 issue is the aFib. After his third surgery at GGH on 8/24/23, he was moved to another floor where the aFib can be monitored. After discharge, he could be admitted to a Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) for continued healing, monitoring, and occupational & physical therapy.
We are praying Tim will be discharged by the end of August so he can return to his family. Then he will still have a long road ahead before he can return to work driving a tractor-trailer.
Your donation will go a long way in helping Tim and his family during this traumatic time knowing bills can be paid: medical bills from the two hospitals (and possibly LTACH) covering multiple surgeries and associated doctor, lab, and imaging costs; home health care; and outpatient trips; as well as household bills and food for the table while he is in the hospital and at home for recovery. Short-term disability will hopefully be approved but it and health insurance won’t cover it all. Regardless of your ability to donate, your prayers are requested!