The family of Garry Dill, a father of four in need of a heart transplant, say they are still in the dark despite meeting with their health insurer BF&M.

Mr Dill’s wife Janet confirmed yesterday they had met with the healthcare provider and are currently awaiting an update, but said “we are none the wiser.”

Suffering from congestive heart failure, Mr Dill was initially informed by local doctors there was nothing that could be done to save him. But after he and his wife sought a second opinion from doctors at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, they were told he would make “a good candidate” for a heart transplant.

Mr Dill was later told he had to physically be residing within the US for more than a year in order to be placed on the transplant list — setting a precedent among Bermudian transplant patients, according to one healthcare insurance provider.

With an estimated two months before his condition deteriorates to the point where he will need to be taken to hospital abroad, several key questions remain unanswered for the family, and with time dwindling, they’ve grown increasingly desperate for answers.

As it stands, the Dill family have been told Mr Dill’s insurance would lapse if he “relocates” to Boston, where he would await the transplant in the care of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. But Mrs Dill is questioning why her husband travelling overseas to await a transplant would be classified as “relocating.”

“We do not know why Garry’s insurance would cease, as the girls and I would be the ones relocating,” said Mrs Dill. “I really don’t know anymore, it’s really disheartening.”

A statement from Brigham hospital referred to Mr Dill’s case as “unique”, and that the kind of care Mr Dill would need means he would have to be living within the vicinity of the hospital full-time.

“Because of the severity of his heart condition, we anticipate he will require mechanical circulatory support, such as ventricular assist devices or a total artificial heart, to bridge him to transplant,” said a hospital spokeswoman.

“Use of these devices mandate frequent routine office check-ups and may require urgent visits should any complications occur. This type of care is not available in Bermuda, and any patient who requires a bridge to transplant must live close enough to the hospital to receive this type of care.”

Mrs Dill said she understood the options available to her husband but that it did not have a bearing on more pressing concerns regarding insurance of their financial needs to move to Boston.

“Even then we have to pay out of pocket and we cannot afford to do that,” said Mrs Dill.

“The issue is not what treatment he needs, it’s how he is going to access the treatment until he has the heart transplant, which could take a while. The concerns still remain the same — insurance, accommodation, flights, gaining entry into the US — and how are we going to manage for whatever period of time.”

A spokeswoman for Brigham and Women’s Hospital said that while Mr Dill had been evaluated, he is yet to be approved for a transplant.

Meanwhile, the Bermuda Heart Foundation has been coordinating with the family.

“We have spoken with Mr Dill and have said we will do everything within our powers to help him but as a charity we are very limited in our resources,” said Simone Barton, executive director of the Bermuda Heart Foundation.

“The Bermuda Heart Foundation will be opening a donation account for the Dill family. This family has many challenges ahead of them. It is our hope that both the local and corporate community will rally to assist with any donations no matter how small. In times like this every penny truly does get to the heart of matter.”

The family are hoping to undertake a fund-raising event called ‘Have a Heart’ over the next few weeks, Mr Dill’s health permitting.

Those willing to assist can e-mail garryjanet6@hotmail.com. Donations can also be made at youcaring.com.