Hi everyone,

My name is Nick Bisesi, and I’m a lifelong musician and educator. Many of you know me as a saxophonist — it’s been my passion and career for as long as I can remember. I’ve played with Ray Charles, Ramsey Lewis, and countless others, as well as with my own ensembles. I have a Grammy nomination and a top four billboard charting composition with Ramsey Lewis’ Urban Knights. I’ve always lived a healthy, active life — running 15 miles a week, working out regularly, and feeling great. So it was a huge shock to learn recently that I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, a condition where the heart valve has two flaps instead of three.

As a child, doctors told my mom that my “heart murmur” was nothing to worry about — that I’d grow out of it. Unfortunately, over time, the forceful blood flow caused my ascending aorta (the main artery leaving the heart) to enlarge, forming an aortic aneurysm. If left untreated, this could lead to a sudden and fatal rupture — something that could happen at any time.

Despite feeling healthy, I’m living with a ticking time bomb in my chest.

The good news is there’s a highly specialized, proven procedure called PEARS (Personalized External Aortic Root Support) that can fix this problem permanently — without replacing my valve or requiring lifelong medication. The surgery uses a custom 3D-printed surgical mesh designed from scans of my heart, which is then wrapped around the aorta to stop it from enlarging and strengthen it for life.

This surgery has been performed safely in the UK and Europe for over 20 years, and my UK surgeon has performed over 400 of these procedures without complication, demonstrating an outstanding track record of success. Unfortunately, this procedure is not available in the United States.

I’ve spent months appealing to my insurance company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, but they’ve repeatedly denied coverage. And I’m out of time. The reality is that if I want this lifesaving operation, I have to fund it myself.

The total cost — including surgery, travel, lodging, pre-op care, and lost income during recovery — is about $110,500*. Please don’t be deterred by the large amount required — even if we don’t reach the goal, your donation will still have a very meaningful impact on my outcome and the well-being of my family moving forward. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a meaningful impact toward covering surgery, travel, lodging, and recovery.

The coolest part about this surgery is that I will be protected for the rest of my life and get to remain fully active and continue to share my music!

For those medical nerds who want more detail, including the science behind the procedure, visit: https://exstent.com/

This surgery would give me a second chance at a full, healthy life and allow me to continue sharing my music. Without it, I may have to give up playing altogether — ending the career and calling that has defined my life.

I’m humbly asking for your help — through donations, shares, or even words of encouragement — to make this surgery possible. Every bit of support brings me one step closer to a safe, healthy future.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart (more accurately, the top!)

With Love and Gratitude,

Nick

*Please note that GoFundMe automatically defaults to adding a tip which goes directly to GoFundMe and not this campaign. It is entirely optional, so be sure to de-select the box or zero it out if you do not wish to tip GoFundME.

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**If you’d like, you can specify in your donation note what you want your contribution to go toward — for example, one plane ticket, a few nights at the specialized recovery hotel adjacent to the hospital, or a week of lost wages. Every bit helps, and even if we don’t reach the full goal, your donation will still have a meaningful impact on my outcome and the well-being of my family.

Surgery and Related Expenses include:

PEARS Surgery (UK) $80,000

Pre-operative Tests & Care $6,000

Plane Ticket (per ticket) $1,000 × 4 tickets = $4,000

Specialized Recovery Hotel Adjacent to Hospital (per night) $500 × 21 nights = $10,500

Lost Wages (8 weeks) $10,000

Total: $110,500