The life of a man in need of a heart transplant hangs in the balance as confusion over his health insurance mounts.

Suffering from congestive heart failure, father of four Garry Dill, 57, was still working as an electrician as of last Friday, despite being told he had two months before his condition deteriorates to the point where he will need to be taken to hospital abroad.

He is now in the hospital here in Bermuda.

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

But in a strange and confusing turn of events, Mr Dill has now been told he has to physically be residing within the US for more than a year in order to be placed on the transplant list — a precedent in the history of Bermudian transplant patients, according to one source.

As he would be required to live abroad for more than a year, Mr Dill’s employer would not be able to insure him once he leaves the Island — leaving him unable to obtain a medical visa unless he can pay for the entirety of his expenses out-of-pocket, according to the family.

The only option they have at this point, said Mrs Dill, would be to somehow gain permanent residency in the US within two months.

“At no point during our stay at the hospital did they say that he needs to be in the country for his name to go onto the transplant list,” said Mrs Dill, a Londoner who met her husband when she visited Bermuda some 20 years ago.

“It was all good to go. They were really pressuring us,” said Mrs Dill. “It was their idea that we should relocate, not ours, they said: ‘You have to relocate’ — that’s how it was put to us — ‘and we will help you.’ We met with the finance officer, the social worker, and they all said ‘We will help you.’

“So we come back — after they’ve liaised with the insurance company — and they’ve done a whole u-turn. We’re wondering what happened? I can’t say for sure. We just feel like now we’re being dissuaded from going to Boston and they’re saying the UK might be the best option. And we’re wondering why? Does somebody not want to pay up? What’s that about?”

In an e-mail addressed to Mr and Mrs Dill from Brigham and Women’s Hospital patient coordinator, they told Mr Dill “would not be eligible for any kind of government funding”, and that he “would need to be a legal permanent resident of Massachusetts to obtain this and living in Massachusetts for an extended period of time with the intention of living here not just for medical care. Therefore, as we discussed, the only option would be to obtain employment in the US.”

Asked for some clarity on the situation, BF&M — Mr Dill’s insurer — said “it is company policy not to disclose client information.”

Diagnosed with ‘Right Ventricular Dysplasia’ some 20 years ago, Mr Dill’s condition has now progressed to full-blown congestive heart failure.

“This means my heart is not pumping well and can cause blood to back up in my body, causing fluid build-up — which makes it difficult to breathe — and swelling in the legs,” said Mr Dill.

He and his wife have four daughters — Iyesha, 27 years old, Shavonte, 16, Janae’, 13, and six-year-old Chanelle.

“The situation has just added stress to an already life-threatening situation no one appears to be concerned about,” said Mrs Dill.

“We have been informed by BF&M overseas’ office that they ‘will only pay accommodation: maximum of $175.00 per day (up to 120 days per calendar year) inclusive of ground transport, food and or room rate and Commercial Airfare: $5,000 per calendar year’. After the period of 120 days and providing food and accommodation for a family of six, if I’m unable to find gainful employment, how will we live? Where will we live?”

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. Also donations can be made at youcaring.com.

The family said that their church, family, and friends have been very supportive and “we continue to have faith.” In the meantime, asked Mrs Dill, “what can we do?”

“We thought it necessary to inform the community of our plight in the hope of gaining assistance, not just for ourselves but for many Bermudians who may encounter the same situation now or in the future.”