C.Nadine get to California for heart surgery.

Aloha my name is Caroline-Nadine Young. I was recently diagnosed Arteriovenous Fistula Of Coronary Artery To Coronary Sinus. In terms a heart condition. I was told that I was born with this condition but was only recently found in January 2023, I’m currently 36 years old. I was told it is so rare that less than 0.002% of people have it and is an unusual thing to find.

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What Arteriovenous Fistula Of Coronary Artery To Coronary Sinus means is that my blood in my heart is not flowing correctly. According to my Cardiologist the Fistula between Right Coronary Artery and coronary sinus is a very rare organic heart disease. TTE can be used to diagnose most coronary artery fistulas and is consistent with surgical findings. Once the disease is clearly diagnosed, surgical treatment should be performed as early as possible to close the fistula and reduce damage to the coronary circulation.

My right Artery has enlarged in fact in my MYCHART the word that was described was that it is WIDENED. This is causing me to feel symptoms of a heart stroke because my body is not getting enough oxygen because of it.

I first started having symptoms in 2009 but was told that it was just anxiety. The symptoms that I felt were sharp chest pains, tingling in my face, and left side of my body. I easily get swollen and constantly get lightheaded or dizzy.

This condition has even caused complications with my second born in 2018. I given birth at just 22 weeks. I remember my husband had to take me ER at one point every other day but was always told I’m under a lot of stress and it was anxiety.

December of 2022, I met with a cardiologist who actual didn’t dismiss me. Instead, he ordered 2 test a CT of my heart and Coronary Angiogram.

The Ct test came back first, and he first told me nothing was found until he said I will call you back I need to get an second opinion because he hasn’t ever encounter what he saw. He called me back within the hour to say that it looks your blood is pumping into your coronary sinus and that the Angiogram test would be able to confirm it for sure.

A week later I did the Angiogram and its was confirmed.

I meet with this same Cardiologist who stated that I would need to have surgery and he would refer me to a Cardiac Surgeon.

January 2023 I meet with this Cardiac Surgeon he explains that my case was unusual, and he recommend that I go to the Mainland because no one in Hawaii has performed this surgery.

He sent my referral to a provider in California and Minnesota because they have work with similar cases as mine.

I spoke with the California nurse and was advised that I would need to come to California twice. We are looking to have surgery in March 2023.

I decided to call my Insurance HMSA and was advised that they don’t cover airfare to the states only inter island.

I’m humbly asking for help to get me to California so I can have this surgery. I’m also asking to also help send my husband and 2 kids so I can have my support team with me.

We would need funds for air, room and board. I will be out of work for up to 3 months so anything left from this will also help go towards my bills.

I want to say mahalo up front for even allowing me to share my story and would appreciate it if you can donate and if you can’t to please share this and or if you could even pray for me.

Mahalo again from myself Caroline-Nadine and my Ohana.