Help Our Heart Warrior - Dustin’s Heart Surgery

Dustin has been a heart warrior his entire life. He had his first heart procedure at only seven weeks old, followed by life-saving open heart surgery at 7 to replace his damaged aortic valve, and again at 14 after a near-tragic diagnosis of infective endocarditis.

In June of 2022, around Dustin’s 27th Birthday, he fell ill and was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed once again with Infective Endocarditis. Endocarditis is an infection in the heart, which attacks and damages the grafted valve and creates scar tissue. The scar tissue obstructs normal blood circulation and over time damages the heart. There is a risk of clots breaking free and travelling to other organs. After a lengthy hospital stay and recovery, Dustin’s care team in both Saskatoon and Edmonton decided that a third open heart surgery is necessary. Although the date has not been set, we understand it will be scheduled for April in Edmonton. They will remove the damaged valve, and replace it with a cryogenically preserved valve conduit. Dustin will be off work for anywhere from 3-6 months. Although he has a short-term disability, it only covers 65% of his income. For Kaylee, his new wife to be with him in Edmonton, she will need to qualify for a caregiver leave, which will pay 55% of her normal wage, after a 2-week waiting period.

Dustin and Kaylee pride themselves on being independent and self-sufficient and are the last to ask for help and the first to offer a helping hand.

This is such a heavy burden for newlyweds to need to carry, and we, their families, want them to have nothing to worry about other than a smooth and uneventful recovery. Finances should be the last thing to be concerned about, but the reality is, the bills will continue to roll in. We are hoping to raise funds to cover the cost of travel and accommodation for Kaylee to stay in Edmonton, and their normal monthly expenses while their income is significantly reduced. The funds will help to cover approximately 5-6 months of expenses while Dustin needs to be off of work.

We ask for your thoughtful consideration, and your prayers for Dustin and Kaylee, as well as the cardiology team that will perform this surgery.

https://www.heartandstroke.ca/heart-disease/conditions/infective-endocarditis#:~:text=Infective%20endocarditis%20is%20an%20inflammation,lead%20to%20life%2Dthreatening%20complications.