Recovery Living Expenses

As many of you likely know, our dearest Leni is in the hospital.

On Wednesday October 20, when Leni went to a doctor due to concern over her difficulty breathing, a very clear heart murmur was discovered. On Thursday October 21, bloodwork showed that the murmur was serious and likely required fairly urgent attention. An echocardiogram confirmed this on Friday October 22, and Leni was immediately admitted to CPMC Van Ness.

On Saturday October 23, Leni met with her cardiologist and surgeon. Not only, was Leni personally very impressed with both of them, but their reputations proceed and surround them. The surgeon is an expert in mitral valves and the hospital has an excellent cardiac department. Leni, has severe mitral regurgitation. This is likely due to a genetic predisposition to the quality of the tissue of her valve being a little more pliant than is ideal. After the initial diagnostic examinations, the surgeon is very hopeful that her mitral valve can be repaired, and does not need to be replaced. This does require what is considered to be open heart surgery, though the surgeon is also hopeful that it can be done through the side of her rib cage or underarm, so as not to disturb her breast bone.

Funds are being raised to help Leni with living expenses while she recovers from the surgery. These needs are immediate. Please help if you can and forward this to anybody who you think could help. Thank you so much and to her good friend Karin Wandner for being at the center of all of this communication. If you would like to receive updates on Leni's progress, you can reach Karin at karinwandner at gmail dot com.