Hi, I'm Melissa and I'm trying to help raise funds for my dear friends Starr and Allen. They are the sweetest, kindest, most loving people ever and they desperately need help. They were teenage sweethearts who have created a beautiful life together and are not ready for their story to end anytime soon. Allen is in Stage 3 Congestive heart failure. Here's his story...

Allen was diagnosed with Congestive Heart failure in March of 1992. He was stage 1 at the time. This was discovered when he had open heart surgery to repair damage sustained in a car accident. At that time, they found a congenital defect to his heart and a burst vein, that required repair, that had been bleeding freely for approximately three years.

Since then, Allen has had 9+ more heart procedures. We always knew he would need another heart surgery to repair his valve, but we held off as long as we could. The other option was a replacement valve or possibly a heart transplant.

In April of 2021, it was discovered that Allen's right tricuspid valve had completely failed and he in now in Atrial fibrillation, known as AFIB, continuously.

They went to one of his doctors for Cardioversion (shock therapy to try to restore his hearts normal rythm) and then they were sent to his surgeon to prepare for yet another surgery. After 30 years with the same doctor, he was told they are no longer confident to do his surgery. They proceeded to tell him "GO HOME AND GET YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER". Well, they are not giving up without a fight!

After using every resource they could think of, they finally found someone who wasn't ready to give up on him too! They were fortunate enough for his case to be presented to the Heart Institute in Clevland, Ohio and they agreed to meet with him. They have been traveling to Ohio to the Heart Institute from their home in Louisiana for the past few months now. Each time they go, there are days worth of tests, scans, biopsies, etc. The doctors are doing everything they can to pinpoint a lot of the unique and unfortunate factors affecting his heart and trying to figure out how to save his life.

On top of all this, in April of 2020, Allen lost his job due to COVID. He has not been able to return due to his condition. Starr works, but her income barely helps them keep their head above water, let alone take on all of the added expenses of trying to get her husband to specialist halfway across the country, to try and save his life. Allen is sometimes offered Angel Flights, but for each visit, Starr has to pay her airfare to be able to accompany her husband. The expenses of the trips, on top of Allen not being able to work, have depleted any savings they had.

They are hoping to hear within the next few weeks what kind of surgery, if any is possible, or if he has to wait to be added to the heart transplant list. If surgery is the option, they will have to stay in Cleveland, Ohio for weeks, possibly even months, until he would be able to fly home.

Allen used to be so active, but now he is limited in how far he can walk. Everyone who knows him, knows his love of cooking, playing with his grandchildren, participating in Shriner events, riding his motorcycle, baking goodies for his wife and her coworkers and creating memories with his wife, she is his best friend...all things that are challenging for him now. Allen has lived a life of service as a Shriner. He would cook for events, help raise money for each fundraiser and participate in any way they needed him. All funds would go to their travel to the Heart Institute in Ohio, along with their basic needs for Allen at home, since this unfortunate hand he has been dealt keeps him from being able to work to sustain their family. I'm hoping in his time of need that, all of the good he put into the world can return to him when he needs it the most.

A message from Starr: We are so grateful for whatever you can give to help us in this journey. And please keep the prayers coming, we can always use those too.