A 2nd Chance for Dad: Heart & Kidney Transplant Medical Fund

I never imagined that I nor anyone in my family would be in this position, sharing one of our stories and asking for help. My name is Jonathan Ott, and my father has had a total of six heart attacks since 2016. About a year ago, he had ANOTHER heart attack. He is otherwise VERY healthy (Generally, see photos). Doctors said everything looked okay, so he went back home, hoping it was behind him but just a month later, in May 2024, he had another one again. This time it killed him, and the doctors had to bring him back.

Dad has been fighting for his life ever since (May 2024 and counting as of 04/23/2025).

After a lot of testing and worsening symptoms, Dad was told he needed an LVAD (left ventricular assist device) to keep his heart functioning (plugged into a wall most times). The surgery was intense, and he almost didn't make it through.

On top of that, Dad had been struggling with severe nosebleeds, which required two or three surgeries before they were under control. Then he ended up developing fluid in his lungs and thus pneumonia after that procedure. He couldn't eat, he couldn't breathe, he couldn't walk; he was excessively weak for months. He had to learn again how to do things like walking, writing, and talking, and even though he was admitted in May of 2024, he didn't receive the LVAD until September of that year. That whole time he was just trying to survive.

When he was finally discharged (lasted 2 weeks), he worked hard to get stronger again but then developed a hernia, and that set him back AGAIN. During a routine LVAD follow-up, the doctors told him his numbers were not looking good, and he got hit with another onset of pneumonia. At that point, his doctors told him the best thing would be to stay in the hospital while waiting for a heart and kidney transplant. This is a total of 11 months and counting now.

That last update was over a month ago, and he is still there. He is doing his best to hold on and stay positive, and family visits and friend visits help, but financially things are the worst they could be with medical bills, treatment costs, living expenses, lost wages/income, and unexpected costs from additional medical things such as pneumonia, hernia, kidney failure, the initial heart issue, etc. Myself and the family have done as much as we can, but it's sadly not enough at this point and this far in.

Dad comes from a military family, including myself and my 2 brothers as Marines. Dad served in the Navy, Mom served in the Army, and my grandparents on both my parents' sides served. We have always believed in giving back and protecting others, and now we're on the other side of it, doing our best to get through each day as a family, let alone what Dad has been going through these past 11 months. It's heartbreaking and angering, to say the least.

Right now, Dad is living off social security, and Mom has her own health issues, thus she can't work anymore but is committed to helping Dad in his recovery journey as best she can. She is even traveling 3+ hours one way 2 times every week to visit Dad and help where she can for less than two hours because she can't stay at the hospital, can't afford hotels anymore, and has to drive back home. The family is tapped out after this long, and most of us live in other states, such as myself in VA, where he is in FL.

Our only goal right now is to recover, get his new heart and kidney, and have a second chance to be active again, to enjoy time with "my wife, grandkids, and family and hopefully live life without constant medical setbacks."

If you are able and willing to help, thank you, whether it's a donation, prayers, or simply sharing this page, it means more than we can say, and Dad thanks you most.

Thank you for taking your time to read Dad's story.

UPDATE 4/23/2025: Dad walked twice, he's getting better at moving but we are still anxiously waiting for a Heart/Kidney to come in. Dad is currently Tier 1 on the waiting list but he needs both organs. Though he’s feeling crappy he did two laps around again this morning and he is keeping the faith.

I want to thank everyone who has shared and donated so far! It means the world and mom can stay in a hotel this next time and not have to drive the 6+ hours each visit!