In September of 2024, after 22 years of successfully managing congestive heart failure, my heart finally gave up. I was admitted to the hospital and underwent several procedures, including multiple cardioverts, the placement of an Impella to take over pumping function for part of my heart, and more caths in my neck than I can count.
In October, I was placed on the heart transplant list at status 2; this is a fairly serious status. I received last rites and fully expected to die. Then, a donor was found. On November 9th, I went into surgery and when I next awoke, it was with a different heart.
Recovery has been tough for both me and my family. Aside from the emotional turmoil involved, there is considerable financial strain. Even with insurance, there are a lot of bills to be paid and monthly prescriptions—required just to continue living—cost hundreds of dollars. Various accommodations, special needs during recovery…the bills pile up.
I am finally working my way to the other side of the recovery process and thinking about what the future holds for me. My skills are outdated; working in a corporate environment is nearly impossible both due to the time it would take to retrain, the long hours, and my status as immunosuppressed.
So, I am looking for funds to help with the bills and build a new life. I’ve started coding apps. My first apps are on the App Store and I’ve started learning how to code for both Apple and Android. This means additional expenses on top of the medical bills (I need a decent system to develop).
While I prefer to take care of myself, I realize this time I need help getting back on my feet. It goes without saying that this has upended my life but I am optimistic about the future; I just need a bit of a hand getting back to life.
