Benefit to support Ettesvold family
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FAIRMONT-- On May 6 a fundraiser will be held at the Fairmont Eagles Club to benefit the family of Gary Ettesvold. Ettesvold has recently received a heart transplant and has been hospitalized since December. The goal of the event is to help Gary and his wife, Sherri Ettesvold, make up for lost income while he was hospitalized and to show community support.
The event will begin at 4 p.m. and run until 7 p.m. It will feature food, music and a silent auction. The Martin County Pork Producers will provide pork chops on a stick and sides for a free will donation. Music will be provided by pianist Glenn Henriksen.
Before he was hospitalized, Gary had received a coronary stent and had struggled with coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease.
In a regular checkup with his doctor in November, it was noted Gary needed to take more nitroglycerin due to chest pressure and discomfort. His doctor later recommended he receive an additional coronary stent placed, but was unable to undergo the procedure due to calcification and the severity of his peripheral vascular disease. As a result the surgeon recommended he undergo triple bypass surgery later that month but this was delayed until early December.
While undergoing surgery, Gary experienced complications which led to him requiring intensive care and life support.
"This was not a standard bypass surgery; it led to multiple different interventions, a lot of extra support," said Sarah Unke, the Ettesvolds' daughter.
One of the necessary procedures Gary needed to undergo included being on a heart pump for far longer than the recommended period. Typically people on a heart pump use it for an average of 10 days, but Gary was on the pump for nearly four months.
"The doctors would tell us 'we're pushing the envelope with your dad' and he had countless different people weighing in on his case," said Unke.
After the surgery Gary experienced a stroke. Because of the stroke and being unable to receive certain types of treatment, there were concerns that Gary wouldn't survive a transplant.
"There was a period of time when the transplant was not an option and we were just buying time to try and see what else they could do to get him out of the hospital," said Unke.
Despite the odds, Gary ultimately overcame most of these complications and underwent an additional surgery and physical therapy while on life support in order to qualify as a transplant candidate.
Within a week of being accepted as a transplant candidate, doctors were able to locate a donor heart.
"It can take months and some people wait years for a transplant and for them to find one so quickly was a blessing in itself," said Unke.
Gary received the transplant on March 14. The procedure and his recovery went very smoothly.
"He tolerated that remarkably well. Everyone was so surprised and amazed and kept saying this was just a miracle," said Unke.
Currently Gary is staying at the Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester and is showing signs of a strong recovery. His mobility is improving and he is able to speak conversationally.
Throughout his hospitalization, Gary's wife Sherri Ettesvold, has been living in Rochester with him as his caregiver and someone who could make decisions on his behalf. Neither has been able to work at their jobs and the family is facing financial stress due to this lost income. Gary will need to stay at the transplant house until later this summer and once the Ettesvolds are able to return to Fairmont they will still need to make weekly visits to Rochester for a period of time.
Unke said the family was grateful for the work of the medical teams at Mayo Clinic and all the support the family has received.
"The cards and the prayers and everything people have done for them is amazing. ... It's very humbling to have so many people care about his story, what he's going through and want to help," said Unke.
Unke also expressed gratitude to the organ donor and people who choose to be organ donors.
"Someone's life had ended in order for my dad's life to continue and still we're very grateful for people who are donors, this is why people do that," said Unke.