Letter: Former Libby resident battles mysterious illness

Dear Editor:

Cory Zoutte, a 38-year-old Libby man now residing in Gold Bar, Wash., became so sick, so fast that even his doctors don’t know what caused it.

Cory woke up on Oct. 26 not feeling well. Two days later, the father of four nearly died.

Originally kept overnight as a precautionary measure, his lungs filled with fluid by 1 a.m., and he went on life support.

Today, Cory struggles for his life. He has been in the Critical Care Unit for more than four weeks at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, Wash. The cost runs $10,000 a day – without extra fees for doctors and medications. His care has already hit a half-million dollars and his insurance only covers so much.

Following several tests, doctors found a complex stew of bugs in his lungs, including MRSA – a difficult-to-treat bacterium.

In Cory’s monthlong stay at the hospital, his kidneys have failed and blood clots developed in his right arm and both legs. He developed pneumonia, which turned into acute respiratory distress syndrome – an often fatal reaction to lung infection. Doctors say that all they can do is “wait and see.”

Cory’s wife, Misty, has been by his side every day. His children, Donald, Madison, Jordan and Miranda, wait at home for Misty to bring home news of their dad. Cory’s brothers and sister have been with him through this ordeal for weeks at a time.

Gary, the eldest, traveled from Missouri to be by his side. His mother, Sherylle, still stays at the hospital to be near her son while Aaron stays home in Lakewood, Wash., during the week to finish his college classes. Two siblings are still in Libby and travel back and forth to be with him.

Tery and Cindy Zoutte and myself ask that if you want to help, contributions can be made at any Bank of America branch in the state of Washington to “Zoutte Family Care Fund.”

Sheri Zoutte, Libby