The Night the NEV-100 Died

A young woman named Rachel contacted the blog recently in an urgent plea for help. Her NEV-100 broke down on the night of Thursday, December 17 and she had nowhere to turn. She called her Apria Healthcare agent to get her a replacement one. They located one in Chicago but it got lost somewhere in Murrysville, PA on Friday, the 18th. Now it was a weekend and all businesses shut down on weekends. So Rachel was left to struggle to breathe on her own for four days, with only the backup support of Bi-PAP. Bi-PAP is less than adequate for Rachel who has a severe scoliosis and depends on the porta lung and NEV-100 to live. Without the Porta Lung's and NEV-100's strong steady breathing system, she felt like she was suffocating and passed those nights with very little sleep. I am glad that I knew of someone whom I could contact to help her. I know, it is a scary situation when your NEV-100 fails and no one can guarantee for you that the time of waiting will be short. Needless to say, this seemingly endless waiting for a working NEV-100 to arrive creates much anxiety and fear. Fear leads to anger and (sometimes) mistrust for those who work to provide healthcare products like the NEV. We feel completely helpless and vulnerable when we face situations where our health can be jeopardized.

We hope to relieve the anxiety of NEV users by making it possible for more of these machines to be manufactured. I heard concerns expressed from loved ones of NEV-100 and Porta Lung users about the possibility of the NEV-100 being discontinued. Believe me, I share these concerns and am working so hard to make this possibility NOT become a reality. Already NEV users have experienced the hardship of getting their NEVs serviced and getting replacement NEVs. My goal is to generate support for the NEV and even gather NEV users together so that a group of us may voice our opinions and show the great need for this ventilator. If there are NEV users reading this blog, PLEASE contact me on here and let me here what YOU have to say about the NEV. Your voice is important and much welcomed!