On June 29th, my son, Alonzo Gude received a new heart, the ultimate gift of life. That moment marked not just the end of a long wait, but the beginning of a new chapter! One born of hope, resilience, and the extraordinary generosity of a donor’s family.

Our journey to that day has been filled with trials and miracles:

In May 2019 (20 yrs old) Alonzo’s life changed instantly. An X‑ray revealed he had an enlarged heart. The doctors diagnosed him with congestive heart failure, and we were told he might not survive the night.

By God’s grace, unbeknown to Alonzo, he was implanted with an LVAD (left ventricular assisted device), a machine that helped pump his weakened heart as a bridge to transplant.

In 2022, tragedy struck again. A hemorrhagic stroke landed him in the hospital for over a month and sent him to rehab. His recovery was nothing short of a miracle. He relearned how to walk, speak, and write. But the stroke also accelerated the need for a heart transplant.

In September 2023, we made the difficult decision for Alonzo to relocate (from Indiana) to Los Angeles to stay with family, so he could begin evaluation for UCLA’s transplant program.

He was accepted, and by May 2024 he was officially placed on the transplant list.

By April 2025, the LVAD began failing. Dr warned that leaving the hospital could be fatal, so he remained under 24/7 care while we waited for a matching heart.

Then came the call, June 28th 2025, at 9:47am EST. They have a match. I booked my flight right after that call, packed a single suitcase and landed in Los Angeles at 6:59pm PST. This began my temporary relocation to Los Angeles, for the next 4 months, leaving my husband and four other children behind in Indiana.

At 3am, June 29th 2025, the team took Alonzo back to prep him for surgery.

July 9th he was discharged and we began his recovery staying close to the hospital per transplant team requirements in the event urgent care was needed.

His journey did not stop there.

Two weeks later, he ended up in the ER and was hospitalized again with a severe arrhythmia. His heart rate surged to 200 bpm, his blood pressure dropped dangerously low, and there was concern about rejection. The transplant team intervened, and after five days in intensive care, he was discharged. To this day, Alonzo continues to struggle with high heart rate, due to SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) His first year post transplant is critical for monitoring and preventing rejection. He currently takes 54 pills a day and will be on anti-rejection medications for the rest of his life. Alonzo has been given a second chance, and his recovery is only just beginning.

2 months post transplant and we are managing low white blood cell counts that was detected during his weekly blood draws. His cell count is dangerously low and requires special trips to the hospital for Neupogen injections.

How you can help:

Medical & medication bills, daily expenses, and loss of income are starting to add up. This fund will go directly to helping me with medical costs, travel, bills, meals and having my husband and kids travel here to Los Angeles to visit their brother.

I am asking for your help to cover these expenses. Any contribution, big or small, will help me support my son, to keep him healthy and help him step into a life that has been on pause for the past six years.

Thank you for the love and support ❤️