A New Heart for Garrett
Donation protected
Update: Garrett has been approved to be put on the heart transplant list! His current status is 1B. He can get a heart at any time. They are thinking it could be within the month. Garrett is currently admitted at Vanderbilt in Nashville. I am in Commerce, packing like mad and trying to prepare the house for renters. With moving, gas and medical bills, we need all the help we can get. Thanks so much to everyone who has donated so far! Every little bit is a big help. Please keep praying and thinking of us. We feel so loved.
In October of 2014 Garrett was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, Cardiac AL Amyloidosis and Congestive Heart Failure. Unfortuantely, there is no cure for his ailments. At that time, we were told his life expectancy would be about six months. Since then, Garrett has responded very well to chemotherapy. So well in fact, that doctors believe he is a candidate for a heart transplant. We are in the beginning stages, and hope to soon have Garrett's name added to the wait list for a new heart. This will have a huge impact on our family of five. Medicare should cover 80% of the transplant expenses. The remaining 20% will have to come from us. The pending approval depends partially on us providing proof that we can pay our portion. Not only do we need to raise the 20%, but will need help with the post operative expenses as well. We will have an additional $600 a month in prescription expenses for the rest of Garrett's life, on top of the many drugs he is already taking. Once Garrett has the transplant he could be in the hospital for weeks or even months. During that time and after, I will be his care taker and unable to work. We will need help with bills, gas and more. There will be a lot of driving back and forth between home and the hospital. We may even be required to stay closer to the hospital, which would be very costly.
Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. We want to do everything we can to keep our family together for as long as possible. We have learned in the last 3 & 1/2 years that every day is a good day. Even the bad ones.
In October of 2014 Garrett was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, Cardiac AL Amyloidosis and Congestive Heart Failure. Unfortuantely, there is no cure for his ailments. At that time, we were told his life expectancy would be about six months. Since then, Garrett has responded very well to chemotherapy. So well in fact, that doctors believe he is a candidate for a heart transplant. We are in the beginning stages, and hope to soon have Garrett's name added to the wait list for a new heart. This will have a huge impact on our family of five. Medicare should cover 80% of the transplant expenses. The remaining 20% will have to come from us. The pending approval depends partially on us providing proof that we can pay our portion. Not only do we need to raise the 20%, but will need help with the post operative expenses as well. We will have an additional $600 a month in prescription expenses for the rest of Garrett's life, on top of the many drugs he is already taking. Once Garrett has the transplant he could be in the hospital for weeks or even months. During that time and after, I will be his care taker and unable to work. We will need help with bills, gas and more. There will be a lot of driving back and forth between home and the hospital. We may even be required to stay closer to the hospital, which would be very costly.
Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. We want to do everything we can to keep our family together for as long as possible. We have learned in the last 3 & 1/2 years that every day is a good day. Even the bad ones.
Organizer
Rachel Cramer
Organizer
Commerce, TX
