#TimmyStrong (The journey for New Heart & Kidney)

Tim’s Story :

At the age of 16, I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma Cancer. This cancer occurs in the lymph nodes. At this time, radiation was my source of treatment. It appeared I beat cancer. However, cancer had appeared again for me at the age 18 in which I treated with Chemotherapy. The cancer subsided for a while but was back at the age of   25.  I continued with the chemotherapy treatments and I was finally cancer free after being diagnosed three times. However, the cancer treatments had affected my heart.
 
So here I am, diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). For about 12 years, my ejection fraction was 19; this was significantly low. This means the blood wasn't pumping out as it should. Due to this, I had to get a pacemaker and defibrillator to help my heart's rhythm and get the blood pumping. As time went on, my body grew weaker. It seemed like I had a new complication every day: issues with my kidneys and being a diabetic. My body was undergoing a lot; you could only imagine how this impacted my family and myself. 
 
I want to fast-forward: In 2020, MY CHF worsened. I was in and out of the hospitals for weeks and sometimes months at a time. At this point, the doctors were considering LVAD ( left ventricle assistive device). This device helps pump the left side of my heart because my heart can not on its own. This device is usually for patients that have reached the end stage of heart failure. 

Monday, March 9, 2020, I  got my LVAD surgery! I made it through another surgery. Having an LVAD limits my activities because it helps me survive and I can not get this device wet, and it must be charged at ALL TIMES. On March 9, 2021, I celebrated with my first LVAD Anniversary . It’s a milestone because many don’t survive considering the hospitalizations and complications I've had. Not to mention I got COVID and Sepsis ( a really serious infection). I've lost so much weight and  grew weak. I had to learn how to walk again, but by the grace of God, I did. Since 2021, I've been hospitalized and had different med changes some of which resulted in my not being vocal at one point. My  day-to-day tasks are limited . My health often undergoes  drastic changes that I quickly have adapted to.

 Its May 2022
 Currently, I reside in Maryland but I travel multiple times in a month from Cleveland to NewYork with my wife for treatment and evaluations. During this time, the physicans  educate us on the available options for donors, and monitor my body acceptability to receive a new heart and kidney. Although , I’m getting closer to  receiving new organs I’m not there yet. This process is a quite long; but I’m still hanging on by the grace of God. This had been a huge financial obligation for my family and I’ve been paying for traveling fees; hotel stays; meals and so on out of pocket. This is very expensive especially when I’m unable to work.  I look forward to the day I receive my new heart and kidney and live somewhat of a normal life again .. but until then I'm still on this journey and I face huge financial obligations.On behalf of Tim’s family, please consider donating today to help  meet his  financial medical goal. Thankyou.

#TimmyStrong