Adam Ross’ Recovery Fund

     Hello, my name is Shelley, and I have started this fundraiser for my husband, Adam Ross. He has suffered a serious medical setback that has left us jobless, penniless & come 12-23-2014, homeless. I am praying, that after reading the following letter, you would help us however you are able. Below, is his story…      

     Adam has had a few back injuries over the years and been injured on the job twice. In 2010, he was deemed, “Permanently, Partially Disabled” by the Utah medical board. His company was at fault for the injury and it was decided that he would have life-time medical provided from his company’s insurance. In 2012, we found out the insurance company “changed their minds” and decided he was “no longer” disabled and cut off his medication and spine injections completely. Due to the injury he has severe neuropathy in both legs and wrists and he has a few compacted discs in his spine (on top of a previous work injury and 2 car crashes that also injured his back). So, he had already been living in severe pain, day in, day out since the late 1980’s.      

     Up until September 22, 2014, he was gainfully employed and I was looking for work. We were in a nice apartment we had been in for over 1 ½ yrs, and things seemed to be rolling along fine. The previous week, Adam got sick and it seemed like he had the flu. The 22nd, I called 911 when he passed out at home. He was hospitalized until November 20, 2014.      

     The doctors are still confused as to the actual reason for his illness, but it was decided he had a diabetic crash & was put into an induced coma for 5 weeks while they attempted to level out his blood sugar levels, white blood cells, potassium, etc. From day one, the doctors were attempting to help me come to terms with the fact that though they were trying everything they could think of to save him; he would most likely not survive. We almost lost him twice. He was put on life support, a tracheostomy was performed, a feeding tube & catheter were inserted, He was started on continuous dialysis once they had him stabilized enough to handle it, but had such severe blood clotting that they had inserted 4 different artery lines attempting to find a clear path, that he had to have 3 blood transfusions as well. He still has a filter in him to prevent blood clots going to his heart, brain, kidneys & lungs. He had to learn how to walk again, after being unconscious in bed for so long. He also had to learn how to swallow & eat again after having the trach tube in for 25 days, instead of the recommended 10-12 days they limit it to. He was getting insulin shots pretty steady during his stay as well. More than one of his doctors made mention how lucky he has been to have survived through this, and one even said Adam was in the only about 3% of people who crash this badly and actually live through it. I was told several times during his stay that he was the sickest patient in the entire hospital.      

     Adam never stopped fighting, and I never let the doctors either.      

     After 2 months in the hospital, Adam came home to an even bigger mess.      

     Lasting Medical Issues:  

Of course, his previous back & neuropathy, and added is; partial paralysis in left hand, severe swelling of feet & legs and severe short term memory loss issues.      

     During his stay, I had been frantically attempting to find work, to find money to keep our apartment and bills current, to have a place for him to come home to. Sadly, the 2nd day he was home, our apartment complex evicted us because I was unable to keep the rent current.      

     Now, with his memory loss condition, he is unable to hold any type of job, as he has trouble remembering what he did 5 minutes earlier, his long term memory is all there though. I am unable to leave him alone, so now I am faced with how to earn a living to support us both, as well as being with him 24/7.     

     I applied for disability for him when he was still in the hospital, but won’t know if he is even approved until March 2015 at the earliest. I have borrowed money from family & friends, but they can’t afford to help anymore.      

     I have had to borrow money from his boss, but now, not only are they saying they can no longer help us, but they “Laid him off Indefinitely” on 12-18-14, until his memory issue is completely gone. And the doctors can’t tell me when or even if that day will ever come.      

     So, today, I am facing having to move my 6’4” recovering husband, myself and our two cats into a 1995 Buick Riviera on 12-23-14 to live. After that, I have less than $400.00 left to our name.      

     Due to the season, jobs are near impossible to find in Las Vegas and finding one to make enough money to cover living expenses as well as his hospital bills is impossible.        

     Before my hospital stay, I was very intelligent, always the “Go-to-guy” at work for almost anything. Now, though I do have my long term memory fully intact, for instance, serving in the US Navy on the USS Gary (FFG-51) with the finest group of sailors and men I have ever had the honor of knowing. Some of the most amazing memories of my life were when I was serving with them. Now I can only remember flashes of memories from the hospital stay, and things I have done since I have been home, don’t stay. I never imagined how hard it would be to not remember if that I have already had breakfast today, let alone what it was I ate.        

     This is extremely hard for me; I am the one who takes care of everyone else. But now, I have to learn how to depend on my wife, for everything from making sure I take my medicine every day, to having repetitive conversations about things I have recently done, but have already forgotten, to having her make sure I get to my doctors on time, because even though I went Sunday, I don’t even remember going, or who my doctor is.        

     This is a very scary situation to be in. And I pray no one hearing my story ever has to go through this. I think losing a leg or arm would be easier to get used to, rather than losing your memories every time you go to sleep. It’s like being stuck in the movie, Ground Hog Day.        

     I am in serious need of help. My wife has been trying everything she can think of, trying to find a job, trying to find community help, trying to get help from family and friends, even from my boss, but, this time of year, no one can help.        

     I have applied for disability, but I won’t even find out until March 2015 if I am even approved.        

     At this time, I still have hospital bills that I am not sure will be fully covered by Medicaid, an eviction, even though I was in the hospital and couldn't pay my rent, I have no money, and I am out of options and ideas.       

     I am asking that you put my story in front of anyone you think may be able to help us in our time of need.        

     Please, I am begging you, pass my story on and if anyone can help us with a financial donation to help pay my hospital bills, pay back my in-laws and boss for loans my wife has had to ask for, please it is greatly appreciated.        

     During his hospital stay, we became grandparents for the first time of our beautiful grandson, Damian, born 10-7-2014, and we have still not even had a chance to travel to California to visit with our wonderful daughter Malissa or even meet our precious Damian yet. If I could give my amazing husband one Christmas gift this year, it would be for us to be able to go meet our grandson. But as it stands, that will not be possible for I am not sure how long.        

     I am asking, in the spirit of kindness, that if there is anything any of you can do to help me and my precious family, I would be eternally grateful to you for it.         

     And just know, that, just as you will be giving out of the kindness of your heart, that I too, will pay all of your good deeds forward, as soon as I am able.        

     I am currently still looking for work, but, it scares me to think of leaving my husband alone during the day because of mental capacity right now.        

     Lastly, I would like to be able to give back to the wonderful men and women who, unselfishly, give their heart, soul and energy to their patients, day in and day out, without really receiving even a heartfelt “Thank You” from the people whose lives they change, each and every day. If there is any way you can help me to give the Doctors, Nurses and Staff at the Desert Springs Hospital something to let them know that their efforts are truly appreciated, that would be wonderful.        

     Thank you, in advance, for anything you can possibly do, to help us this Christmas Season.        Please spread my story to others as compassionate as you.       

     Thank you and God Bless You!       

     Adam Ross & Shelley Diaz