•This fundraiser is for Randy Alvarenga-Jackson to assist with medical expenses•

On Thursday, April 22nd, 2021, I had a heart attack at 31 years old.

It all still feels pretty unbelievable. Just the Monday before, I had been running and getting back into the gym as pandemic restrictions lifted. A few days later, I was lying in a hospital bed after suffering from a heart attack. I had what is called an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, or a STEMI heart attack. This type of heart attack is also colloquially known as a widowmaker heart attack. My LAD (left anterior descending artery) had a 100 percent blockage, which meant a major part of my heart had no blood flow. Luckily, the EMTs rushed me to the hospital in time to receive a stent and some life-saving medicine.

Doctors spent the early hours of my heart attack performing many labs as I lay in ICU. They were looking for signs or causes. I was not a smoker, didn’t have high blood pressure, my cholesterol levels were in normal ranges, and I was pretty active. The biggest contributing factors became genetic propensity and stress.

Despite the severity of my condition, I survived. The joy of being able to see my family’s faces again was indescribable.

Since my hospital stay, I was recommended to attend Cardiac rehabilitation so that I would be able to regain some heart function. I have been in counseling for depression and had numerous visits to cardiologists and nurses who have put me on some medicines that are helping my heart.

I am very thankful to be able to report on my recovery process; however, one piece of the puzzle that I need to work through is the hospital bills. Although my health insurance has covered the vast majority of my accrued costs ($74,149.43 total as of this writing), I am still at a loss for how to pay the remaining $6,000.

If you have the ability to assist in ANY way, it would be greatly appreciated. No amount is too small.

I thank you for taking the time to read my story and again hug those around you one extra time for me.