|
Man’s faith tested by illness and its aftermath |
|
|
|
Friday, 21 March 2008 |
By BECKY HAND
Community editor
Parkview Medical Group, Fort Wayne Cardiology, and the Lutheran Heart Center all agree that Craig Fanson needs a new heart. A literal, heart, that is, because in other ways Fanson’s “heart” is true and noble.
Fanson’s life seemed to be charmed. He married Julia Farber, daughter of Marilyn and John Walker on Nov. 20, 2003, and gained a stepdaughter, Kaitlyn, now a freshman cheerleader at Columbia City High School. The couple soon started their own business, Fanson Tech. Quality and though Craig had to spend a lot of time traveling to get the business up and running, things were looking optimistic that they would make a go of it.
Then, last August, Julia noticed that Craig was more tired than usual and he went to the doctor. It took a while, but he was diagnosed with Idiopathic Viral Cardiomyopathy. According to Medline Plus, “Cardiomyopathy is a weakening of the heart muscle or a change in heart muscle structure. It is often associated with inadequate heart pumping or other heart function abnormalities.”
In Craig’s case, he has developed a large clot in his heart and an enlarged heart that beats 140 times a minute to compensate for its inadequacies. The heart is rated by an ejection fraction, where a healthy heart is at 55 to 70 percent. Craig’s heart was rated at 10 percent, and doctors were amazed. Most people with this rating are flat on their backs and can’t even move, but Craig is still walking.
He does have a defibrillator attached to his chest at all times, and it will warn people around him not to touch him if it is going to go off. The prognosis will not get better, his condition will not improve.
He needs a new heart.
But the manner and attitude of this man are even more amazing. He is not angry, and he hasn’t become despondent.
“The Lord has a plan, I’m just waiting to find out what it is,” Fanson says with a look of determination and calm acceptance.
Unfortunately, the medical bills are staggering, and with his wife needing to take off work for four months to care for him, their business has gone under. With no income, bills have not been paid and they are now far behind in their mortgage payments, and they are only days away from losing their home, unless they can find a way to raise the funds or get an extension on their mortgage. The house will go up for sheriff’s sale on April 10.
Their church, Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Columbia City is planning fundraisers in the near future, and Fanson says the hospitals have been wonderful to work with. Mike Myers, CANI, Donna Jones of the Division of Family Services and Sharon at Parkview Patient Assistance have been working on his case. And Fanson says that the community has been wonderful.
Fanson has done everything he can to take care of his family, documenting everything that has gone on and filing it in a large three-ring binder. But there is never a sense of desperation or despair. His quiet determination and solid faith that things will be O.K. is inspiring.
Anyone wishing to help the Fansons can send a check to a fund that has been set up by their church: Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 638, Columbia City, IN 46725 ATTN: Fansons.
I’m sure he didn’t realize the pun when he said it, but Craig offered his heartfelt thanks for anything that can be done. |
|
Last Updated ( Monday, 24 March 2008 )
|
