Community Rallies Around West Haven Man Battling Blood Clots in Heart, Legs

WEST HAVEN, CT — The West Haven community is rallying around Ricky Spreyer, who was rushed to the hospital two weeks ago after he was having difficulty breathing and experiencing extreme pain in both legs and temporarily lost the use of them.

Doctors discovered that Spreyer had several blood clots in his leg, spleen, and kidneys. They also found “that he has a hole in his heart that clots are traveling through and into his arteries,” according to a GoFundMe page launched to assist the family with medical expenses. “He also has a clot in the apex of the heart causing it to not function properly.”

Spreyer underwent emergency surgery and was released from the hospital over the weekend, according to a Friday morning update by Corey Spreyer, Ricky’s brother who created the GoFundMe page.

• To sign up for West Haven breaking news alerts and more, click here.

“He has visiting nurses coming in three times a week and physical therapists three times a week as well,” Corey Spreyer wrote. “He still has the wound vacuum attached to the incision in his right leg until November 30th at which time the surgeon will assess and hope to find it's healing on its own and will not require surgery to close the wound as originally expected. He has started physical therapy to strengthen his leg and learn to move around with the walker and ultimately a cane, then on his own TWO feet!!!! He is taking medicine to attempt to dissolve the clots, especially the one in his heart so that they can go in and close the hole. Unfortunately, the medicine takes weeks to dissolve the clots so they will reassess that in about 4 weeks. While he is progressing a little at a time, he has a long road ahead. His spirits remain high and his sense of humor intact. Again, there aren't words sufficient enough to thank everyone but please know that your support has helped him through this crisis.”

The GoFundMe page has raised more than $23,000 by 332 people in 16 days (as of Friday morning) as fellow Westies have rushed to the aid of one of their own.

“He has dedicated hours upon hours in raising money for charities and being there for anyone and everyone in need!” Corey Spreyer wrote in the original post. “Though he may be mad at us when he sees we are asking, we feel it's time for us to return the favor. He will be out of work for the near future causing much unneeded stress especially in his condition. If you would like to make a donation to Ricky it will be greatly appreciated.”

Visit the GoFundMe page here.

Photo via GoFundMe