(credit to u/axrevolutionai for suggesting I make a full post for this)
This is a big one, for multiple reasons.
I am disabled, and live with my mother and stepfather, paying rent from my Social Security disability checks. To their perpetual credit, the house is paid off and they say I'll always have a home here. I am forever grateful for that. Anyway...
My stepfather needed triple (which became quadruple) bypass surgery. He was driven to the hospital early this morning, before sunrise.
However, as my mother was driving him, she turned too soon, and got two tires over the edge of the driveway. They had to call a tow truck, which had to call another to help. And because they couldn't afford it, I had to pay for them, well over $300 worth that I can't afford right now either.
Then it got worse. On the way there, they passed some homeless guy, who got so angry at them for whatever reason that he threw his flashlight at their car, and not only caused serious scratches on the door, but the back panel of a side mirror got completely dislodged, exposing the wiring. Normally Dad would go to a junkyard for a replacement part, but he's currently in the hospital, per above.
I'd share photos, but I don't want to risk self-doxxing.
On top of all this, while the surgery did go very well (thank God), he is currently intubated on a fucking VENTILATOR, for reasons I do not understand. He is expected to be in the hospital for five to seven days. I'll be visiting him once he wakes up.
We don't know what we're going to do. Can GME please fucking go TO THE MOON! already?! That's my only backup plan, and I bought in (over ten shares) because I was desperate and I trust YOU guys! Hell, even if I sold right now, it wouldn't be instantaneous--Computershare would snail-mail me a physical check, and having never done this before, I don't know if the taxes on that income would be deducted for me, or I'd have to make note of this on my 1040 or 1099 later.
Is it possible to duct-tape the back of the mirror in case we have to go somewhere when it rains? We have the car under a carport right now, so there's that. Normally Dad would order and attach the new one, but, well...
Oh, and the car's not insured. Insurance was cancelled a month or two ago because we can't fucking afford anything right now. Because of all of Dad's testing and preparation for this surgery.
Oh, and the warranty on the car has expired because it's about four years old.
God, I'm so frustrated right now. I feel powerless. Please pray for my family's well-being.
Mods, I apologize for the rant. Delete this if you must. But I don't know where else to turn.
(Update: He is OFF the ventilator!)
Respiratory Therapy student here, offering some insight on the ventilator: obviously I don't know precisely what is happening, but here is an overview...
During Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), the patient is sedated and intubated prior to surgery, and then connected to a Cardiopulmonary Bypass machine. This machine acts as the patient's heart and lungs during surgery. Following the procedure ALL patients, no matter how healthy, remain intubated until the physicians are confident that the lungs can handle the work of breathing. Reducing the workload on the lungs (and keeping the patient sedated) allows the body to focus on repairing the trauma to the heart caused by surgery.
Over time, youay hear the physicians (or RT's) talk about reducing the pressures and volumes. This is a good sign, meaning that your stepfather is needing less help from the ventilator. The idea is to get him off of mechanical ventilation as soon as possible, while minimizing the chance of going back on. I hope this helped, and if you have any specific questions I will do my best to answer them.
God bless you, your stepfather, and your family.