Warrior heart x3.5

Being born with a heart condition no one knows about can lead to a tricky situation as you grow. That's what happened with me. I found out about my heart condition, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, when I was 15 years old and had passed out on the staircase at school. Perfect way to end my freshman year of high school right? That summer I had medical tests and surgeries to make sure I made it to be an adult. You see my heart was 3 times bigger than a normal heart due to the thickening of the left ventricle. Being that big meant my heart had to pump harder and faster to keep up with my bodies needs. But I always tried to continue being a normal high school kid. Doing what all the other kids were doing until I couldn't. I graduated and went off to college, all while thinking my condition was doing good. I wasn't having any symptoms and thought that my defibrillator had solved everything. Sadly, that was not the case. When I was nearing the point of getting my defibrillator replaced, I went into atrial fibrillation for the first time and I thought I was going to die. Most people can't feel when they go into this but due to my heart's size, which is now 3.5 times bigger, I can feel every change in every beat. I will always remember that night and how I was filled with fear. Everything was fine, I had just gotten out of work and was trying to relax at home, when out of nowhere I couldn't breathe. It felt like my heart was beating out of my chest. I tried taking my pulse but thought I was losing my mind when it came out to be 200. Could I be having a heart attack at 23 years old? I was frozen in that moment thinking about everything I still wanted to do in life. I was also afraid of dying alone. By the time I arrived at the hospital I was going into shock and I was hyperventilating. In minutes I was in an ER room filled with nurses and doctors all trying to figure out what was going on. Hours went by, IVs were given, blood drawn repeatedly and I was admitted. This was the first sign that my condition was getting worse...had been getting worse over the years and was just showing just how bad it had gotten. Over the last two years I have went through this same situation so many times I have lost count. I've been cardioverted 14 times, had 2 heart ablations and multiple tests done. Through all of this I was getting more tired but I needed a way to pay my bills. So I continued to work. Pushing myself when I shouldn't have because I thought I would be ok. Today I am in advanced heart failure and am no longer able to work. I am devastated that I can no longer be at my job, but I need to take care of myself now. Disability takes months to respond and I have no way to pay bills, so if you or anyone you know can help please do. I know some people don't trust the internet and if that's the case with you but you would still like to donate, feel free to mail any donations to 2495 Sparling Rd Kingsley, MI 49649. I will be eternally grateful. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and God bless.