This summer, our family’s world turned upside down. On June 1st, my son-in-law, Yasha Kuzmin, suffered a sudden heart attack. His heart was functioning at only 5–10%—a level incompatible with survival. In the weeks that followed, he endured multiple cardiac arrests, intubations, and was life-flighted from Pensacola to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, where he underwent multiple procedures while machines kept him alive.

Yasha is just 37. He served in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2012, including a year-long deployment in Iraq as a human intelligence collector embedded with combat units. Within a few years, he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which led to advanced heart failure. Doctors believe this may have been connected to his time living in a Baghdad bunker that possibly contained chemical weapons.

Before his sudden decline, Yasha was excited about his future—performing stand-up comedy, studying to become an English teacher, and building a life with my daughter, Danielle, and their children: my granddaughters Mila and Mylee, with his son Liam visiting as often as possible. His dream is to reestablish that life as quickly as his recovery allows.

When Yasha was hospitalized, Danielle left their home and her job to remain by his side night and day for nearly eight weeks. His mother cared for Mila in Nashville for much of that time and Mylee came home with me. After nearly two months, on July 5th, the family received the ultimate gift—Yasha's new heart.

Walking out of the hospital 12 days after surgery!!!

The family’s lives have been completely upended, but they are nearly ready to return home to Florida. Danielle will resume her job with Verizon, and Mila—who began Kindergarten in Nashville—will face another transition as she starts at a new school.

This fundraiser is meant to buy the family a little time: for Danielle to support Yasha’s recovery, to ease Mila into her new routine, and to give them space to reestablish their lives. The transplant saved Yasha’s life, but it also drained their savings.

Every contribution will help them cover moving costs, recover financially, and meet their needs as they begin again after this medical emergency. Most importantly, it will provide Yasha the stability to continue healing, Danielle the breathing room to return to work slowly, and Mila the security of a stable home and school after months of upheaval.

Today, the surgery is a success—Yasha’s new heart is working beautifully. He is in cardiac rehab and, though he tires easily, he is thrilled to say: “I am 100% alive.