Fundraiser launched for Kansas City man who died after contracting two malaria strains

A Kansas City man died from malaria he contracted while traveling last month in West Africa.

A GoFundMe page has been launched for Ralph Metzger, who died June 29.

The 62 year old returned from Nigeria on June 15, his family wrote on the fundraising page.

He was not feeling well and a few days later, he went to see a doctor, who confirmed he had two strains of malaria. He was admitted to the intensive care unit where he received antimalarial drugs, but his condition worsened and he was put on life support.

On June 29, his care team at the hospital told his family that his vital organs were failing and that while the treatment was alleviating some problems, it was causing more harm.

“Prayerfully and with heavy hearts we accepted their advice to shift the focus of his care toward keeping him comfortable and not compounding his existing symptoms with additional, aggressive interventions,” the fundraising page said. “Shortly after removing his breathing tube Ralph quietly went into HIS rest.”

The fundraiser will help pay for medical bills and support his family. It had raised more than $12,000 as of Monday afternoon.