Brett's Heart Transplant
Donation protected
In the middle of our miracle….
Husband, Father, Artist, Comedian and Friend. The love of my life!
Thirty years ago Brett underwent his first open-heart surgery to correct a genetic condition called congenital hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. At the time there was little known knowledge or treatment for this rare heart disease. Brett was one of the first in the region to have this type of surgery at the Clinic. The heart was surgically reduced in size by cutting away the oversized heart muscle thus leaving Brett with a pacemaker supporting the right side of his heart. As time has passed, the heart muscle has continued to weaken and he is now relying 100% on the pacemaker to support his heart.
There have been several hospital stays in the last couple years. The most recent and lengthy (36 days) stay at University hospital starting March 7th 2019, was the beginning of our journey. Although the most difficult part of our journey, we were blessed with the option that so many do not get. The option to be placed on the heart transplant list. We have gained a wealth of knowledge and hope for our future. We have had some intermittent hospital stays since then, which are all part of the process. We are so thankful that ALL testing has been cleared for transplant. As the doctors say “it is the sweet spot” where everything else is healthy and perfect with the exception of the heart.
Although Brett will need further hospitalization prior to transplant and exact placement on the list, we are home for a little while on 24hr IV Milrinone therapy and nurse home care visits. Milrinone is used as a short term therapy to help support pumping the heart. Eventually they will be calling us in for the placement of the Right Ventricle Assist Device (RVAD) an external pump (bridge to transplant) and will be required to remain in the hospital until transplant. We cannot say enough about our Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant team at University Hospital in Cleveland. They know what they are doing and many are like family. They LOVE our Brett. Even in the middle of all this, he never misses an opportunity to make someone smile or laugh. They are so on board with our journey and have rallied around us, cheering to get us through.
We are in the process of receiving the most selfless gift a person/family can give…The gift of life, a second chance. So many have reached out and asked how you can help. It has been highly recommended that we start a fundraising support campaign because not even the best insurance covers all unforeseen costs associated with a transplant and the life changes that will follow. We are so blessed and thankful to have you all in our lives. Thank you for loving our Shelby as your own. She is in her senior year of high school and misses her best friend.
Please consider helping us through this miracle.
Blessings, The Sutter family
Husband, Father, Artist, Comedian and Friend. The love of my life!
Thirty years ago Brett underwent his first open-heart surgery to correct a genetic condition called congenital hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. At the time there was little known knowledge or treatment for this rare heart disease. Brett was one of the first in the region to have this type of surgery at the Clinic. The heart was surgically reduced in size by cutting away the oversized heart muscle thus leaving Brett with a pacemaker supporting the right side of his heart. As time has passed, the heart muscle has continued to weaken and he is now relying 100% on the pacemaker to support his heart.
There have been several hospital stays in the last couple years. The most recent and lengthy (36 days) stay at University hospital starting March 7th 2019, was the beginning of our journey. Although the most difficult part of our journey, we were blessed with the option that so many do not get. The option to be placed on the heart transplant list. We have gained a wealth of knowledge and hope for our future. We have had some intermittent hospital stays since then, which are all part of the process. We are so thankful that ALL testing has been cleared for transplant. As the doctors say “it is the sweet spot” where everything else is healthy and perfect with the exception of the heart.
Although Brett will need further hospitalization prior to transplant and exact placement on the list, we are home for a little while on 24hr IV Milrinone therapy and nurse home care visits. Milrinone is used as a short term therapy to help support pumping the heart. Eventually they will be calling us in for the placement of the Right Ventricle Assist Device (RVAD) an external pump (bridge to transplant) and will be required to remain in the hospital until transplant. We cannot say enough about our Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant team at University Hospital in Cleveland. They know what they are doing and many are like family. They LOVE our Brett. Even in the middle of all this, he never misses an opportunity to make someone smile or laugh. They are so on board with our journey and have rallied around us, cheering to get us through.
We are in the process of receiving the most selfless gift a person/family can give…The gift of life, a second chance. So many have reached out and asked how you can help. It has been highly recommended that we start a fundraising support campaign because not even the best insurance covers all unforeseen costs associated with a transplant and the life changes that will follow. We are so blessed and thankful to have you all in our lives. Thank you for loving our Shelby as your own. She is in her senior year of high school and misses her best friend.
Please consider helping us through this miracle.
Blessings, The Sutter family
Organiser
Suzy Q Sutter
Organiser
Mogadore, OH
