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Mitch Graham Road to Recovery
Mitch is a fixture in the Cincinnati cycling community. He has given SO MUCH to this community and now I am asking the community to give back to him as he fights for his health.
Why do they need help? Please read below.
Mitch was diagnosed with Giant Cell Myocarditis in March of this year. It is an incredibly rare heart disease that very little data exists for and typically requires heart transplant for survival. He spent 6 weeks at University of Cincinnati Medical Center waiting for a heart transplant. During that time he rode an exercise bike to stay strong and pass the time. He was also put on immunosuppressive drugs which worked to put the GCM into dormancy. He was released from the hospital and while still on the heart transplant list, it is paused for now.
In the middle of September, Mitch spiked a fever of 104 and was taken to UC ED. He quickly declined neurologically and was admitted to the CVICU. Infectious Disease doctors were shocked to finally diagnose him with West Nile Virus (also extremely rare) which in turn caused Viral Meningitis/Encephalopathy. He spent 33 days in the CVICU on a ventilator and has been transferred to Drake Rehabilitation Hospital where he will remain indefinitely.
He is still currently on the ventilator but more stable. He will need to relearn to walk, talk and regain all motor functions. There is no timeline for his recovery and there is great danger that the West Nile will reactivate the GCM and the heart transplant will be reinstated.
Mitch’s health battle has left him unable to work and will continue to do so for quite some time. He will have extremely high medical bills for the remainder of his life. That combined with a small business owner's health insurance has created an insurmountable