Transcend Tattoo & Art Gallery Hosting a Show to Support John Mealy
On November 13th, 2010, Transcend Tattoo & Art Gallery will be hosting an art show to benefit our good friend John Mealy. The theme of this show will be based on the human heart and can be created in any medium the artist chooses. The show is open to any artist who wishes to participate.You have the option of either donating a piece of artwork or selling it. We are also looking for donations for a raffle to be held on opening night. Anything that you can do is extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. 100% of proceeds will go directly to John to aid in his current and future medical bills.
John was born in 1972, and has spent his life living in the Bridgeport/ New Haven areas. As a child, he enjoyed playing baseball and later learned to play the drums. John has played drums for several local hardcore bands, and he has been a mainstay in the CT hardcore scene since it's inception. John still loves to go to whatever shows he is able to.
When John was 18 he decided to enlist in the US Marine Corps. He served his 4 years and was discharged due to a knee injury. After his discharge he bounced around holding various jobs. On April 14, 1995 his daughter, Jasmine was born. After her birth, John decided it was time to "grow up" and get responsible, so he went back to school. He went to culinary school and then he and worked hard to become an EMT. John took a position working for American Medical Response. It was a job at which he excelled and loved doing. Unfortunately with the progression of his disease he was no longer able to "work the streets", so he took a job working as a 911 dispatcher. It was a job where he could continue to safely practice his skills.
About 10 years ago, John first found out that he had a problem with his heart, 2 years later he had his first heart attack, 2 years after that he required a pacemaker/defibrillator to be implanted in order to maintain a normal heart rate and rhythm. It was later decided that he would need a heart transplant.
After being on the transplant list for several months, the doctors decided that John would have to be admitted to Yale New Haven Hospital for the remainder of his wait for a donor heart to become available. While in the hospital, he had 2 more severe heart attacks which almost took his life. After his 2nd heart attack in as many days, the doctors found that John's left ventricle (responsible for pumping the blood to the body) was no longer working. They had to perform emergency surgery to implant an LVAD (left ventricle assist device), which is basically an artificial heart to replace his left ventricle. The LVAD is considered a "bridge to transplant" meaning that this device is keeping John alive until a donor heart becomes available to him.
The LVAD is implanted in his left left side of his chest next to his heart, and weighs about 7 pounds. The device has 2 large tubes which come out of John's chest and have to be connected to a power supply at ALL times. During the day, John has to carry battery packs in a book bag, and at night he has to connect them to a large machine in order to charge them throughout the night.
John's day to day activities have become a huge challenge because of the LVAD. Simple activities that most of us take for granted are now a struggle for him. He can no longer "hop in the shower", since now he has to take the time to ensure everything is sealed off and protected so that the tubes, entry sites and the device do not get wet. John can no longer work, drive or even be left alone for extended periods of time.This is why John needs our help. Even with his medical insurance, the cost for his required daily medications, and his medical bills are astronomical with more arriving in the mail each and every day. Any donation that you can do will make a difference to John and his wife.On a personal note, Jason (shop manager) and Kevin (shop owner) have been friends with John for almost 20 years now. John was the one who introduced them both to tattoos, since he was the first one of their friends to get one. He was involved with Kevin getting his first tattoo which sparked the desire to to open a tattoo shop of his own. John has been a great friend to us all throughout the years, and we all love him very much. We decided to do this show as soon as realized that our friend needed our help. Please join us in making this show a success for him, he deserves it very much!!!
Thank you for your time, if you have any question about the art show, or would like to make a donation or help out, please contact us at Transcend (203)481-9372, or email us atkevin-walsh@sbcglobal.net or jasonkeenan74@gmail.com.
