Rally for Ross' Heart Attack Recovery

On March 4, 2024, Ross Whitney (32 years old) suffered a massive heart attack. Thankfully, his wife Hannah was home at the time and was able to call 911 within minutes. The EMTs were quick to arrive and worked on Ross for over half an hour before taking him to Ochsner Medical Center in Lafayette. Once he was stable, his family was told that Ross had 100% blockage in all three arteries. Emergency surgery was performed, with six stents being placed and an impella heart pump implanted. We were later told that he went into cardiac arrest 15 times that day. Due to the necessity of specialized long-term care, on March 5 Ross was airlifted to the Houston Methodist ICU where he remains to this day.

In August of 2023, Ross was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and was diligently managing it under a doctor’s care. There was no indication he was suffering from any heart issues making this incredibly shocking to everyone. He was initially given a 1-2% chance of survival, with many doubting that he would survive that first night. Ross defied the odds then and continues to do so, with doctors calling it a true miracle he his alive today.

While we thank God that Ross has made it this far, his body has suffered major damage and he is still fighting for his life. He has undergone numerous surgeries and procedures since being admitted to Houston Methodist. In addition to massive heart failure, he is suffering from kidney failure, vascular damage and complications of diabetes, to name a few. Due to these co-morbidities, he is not currently a candidate for a heart transplant. The goal at this time is to reduce the dependence of the impella in order to see to what extent the heart is damaged. Because of Ross’s numerous and intricate medical complications, this has been an extremely slow and difficult process. Ross has been blessed with the most dedicated and skilled medical team caring for him. The Whitney family remains profoundly grateful to all of the medical staff who continue to give Ross the best care possible.

As you can imagine, this has taken not only and huge emotional toll but a financial one as well. Ross has a very long road ahead of him and will remain in Houston for many months to come. His family has heard many times that his medical path is a marathon and not a sprint. From day one, Hannah and his father Christopher have not left his side. They have temporarily relocated to Houston along with Hannah and Ross’s one and a half year old son Jack. Any contributions will go towards living and childcare expenses and Ross’s ongoing medical care. 100% of these donations will be given directly to Ross Whitney. Hannah and Ross are so eternally grateful for all of the support they have received thus far. Please continue to keep Ross and his family in your prayers.

Anyone that knows Ross knows that he is always helping those in need. Now it’s our turn to show our love for Ross by helping to support his family during this difficult time. Thank you for reading, and God bless.

- The Whitney Family