CNBNews

   Mike Dunkirk, a Gloucester City Councilman in the 1980's is in need of a medical heart procedure that is not covered by his health insurance carrier. His family is reaching out to his friends in Gloucester City to send a donation to help pay for the high medical costs. Mike was active in Gloucester City for many years before being transferred to Virginia by his employer. The following letter is written by one of his daughters, Kelly Dunkirk. 

"Thirty-three years ago I became the luckiest girl on earth when I was blessed in having Mike Dunkirk for a father.   My father is the best man I know.  He worked relentlessly to provide a good life for his family. He treats strangers like friends and will go out of his way to help anyone he meets.  My father was a councilman in Gloucester City.

He was a volunteer firefighter, a member of the Board of Health, a coach for the Carmen-Palmiero boy's basketball team, a member and at one time President of the Jaycees, and all around good citizen in the Gloucester City Community.  For those of you who worked with my dad or were neighbors or friends, you knew that you could depend on him. 

This year, after years of struggling with heart problems, my dad's condition has begun to worsen.  Unfortunately there is nothing left for his cardiologist to do.  His heart pulls in blood at a normal rate, but then can't push the blood out the way a normal heart can.  (The normal ejection rate is between 55-75, my father's is 11). This decreased level of ejection creates major circulatory problems because the oxygen is not carried through the body the way it should be.  Dad's cardiologist has not given him months or weeks to live, but is continually impressed when he arrives for appointments.  Dr. Cary suggested that we look into stem-cell research (stem cells are taken from the patient's own body, and then circulated back into the heart muscle).

My dad found research teams in the US that do case studies, but the FDA has not yet approved the procedure.  Seventy-five percent of the heart patients in the studies increase to ejection rates of 30-40% in the first three months.  We knew at once that we were on the right course.  Unfortunately, my father does not have six months to wait to start treatment under a case study.

Then when you think God closes a door……..he opens a window.  Several medical teams in other countries do the same successful heart procedure.  My dad gave over his medical information and was accepted.  The procedure is not approved by my parent's insurance carrier.  The cost is estimated somewhere between $40-60 thousand dollars. It seems crazy that money stands in the way of saving a life, but in this case, it does.  We feel that we are running out of time and that this is our only hope.  I tell you this because I need your help.  Without the procedure we will lose our dad.  I ask on behalf of our family to please send donations to: Friends and family of Mike Dunkirk c/o P.O. BOX 1231 Forest, Virginia 24551.  For additional ways you can help, please contact me at 434-509-5275.

For more information on this procedure, please visit the website www.vescell.com.  Thank You in advance for your caring and concern.

Note: click on photos to enlarge. First photo, Mike with his wife and daughters. Second photo, the night he was sworn in as a Councilman with Councilman Sam Chew on his left, and Councilman Tom Carter on the right.  Third photo, Mike receiving an award from fellow Jaycee member Ted Howarth. Fourth photo, Mike with former Mayor Bob Bevan, and former Chief of Police Ted Howarth.