Monday, April 7, 2008 | 2:29 p.m.
The good news is they sent Glen Gondrezick home from the hospital Saturday night.
The bad news is they sent him home without the new heart he so desperately needs.
The UNLV basketball hall-of-famer spent 17 days at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles waiting on a heart for transplant surgery. But when none materialized, he was sent home to Las Vegas where he continues to wait.
"I got the feeling they wanted to see the money in my account," Gondo said. "And they wanted to see it now."
Gondrezick's hospital bill for his 17-day stay was $185,000. He has $500,000 remaining in benefits. But that won't last very long, considering he still hasn't had the transplant and is facing a lengthy rehabilitation period after that.
Basically, he spent $185,000 and 17 days in the hospital to stabilize his condition.
Had he been born in Canada, where they have socialized national health care, he'd most likely still be in the hospital waiting for his new heart.
"Plus, I'd probably have a better view," he said. "The only thing I could see out my window was the air-conditioning unit."
Gondrezick is hooked to an IV of Milrinone, a drug which helps his diseased heart pump, and must limit contact with others, to prevent against infection in the event a donor heart is located and he could be flown to Los Angeles for the delicate surgery.
His status has been changed from 1A, where a donor heart is actively pursued for a patient; to 1B, where a patient will be notified when a donor heart is located.
"But nobody's ahead of me," Gondo said about the list of those waiting on a big heart. His size (6-foot-7, 250 lbs.) makes it more difficult to find a donor who is a match.
He said the hundred of cards and letters he received from Rebel fans during his hospital stay made it much more bearable.
A second fund to help defray his medical expenses has been started in his name at the Bank of Nevada. Persons wishing to contribute can contact any Bank of Nevada branch or the original Gondo fund at Bank of America.
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