SKYWAY, Wash. — A Skyway man who suffered an aortic dissection while in the Philippines has died.
Jonathan Gant’s close friends confirmed to KIRO 7 that he passed away on the evening of Jan 6.
He was 40 years old.
On Dec. 24, Gant was buying gifts for children in a nearby village when his heart tore.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. He needed to undergo surgery to repair it.
Gant’s friends say that while he survived the surgery, he ultimately lost his fight while recovering.
“When it comes to aortic dissections, time is critical. Even with surgery, recovery is extremely difficult. Jonathan’s organs weren’t getting enough oxygen-rich blood, leading to internal bleeding, infection, and eventually, organ failure,” an email to KIRO 7 stated.
While Jonathan’s fight is over – his mother’s is not. His friends say the hospital will not release his body to be flown back to the United States until his medical bills are fully paid.
They’ve set up a GoFundMe and are hoping to help cover the outstanding $83,500.
If you’d like to donate, click here.
“Jonathan fought with everything he had,” the GoFundMe reads. “With love and prayers from around the world, he held on as long as he could. In the end, his heart took its final beat. In his last days, the love and generosity of so many carried Jonathan and gave him hope.”