Curing A Cardiac Conundrum

Howdy!  I'm Elizabeth and I have a calcified tumor in my heart.  After several
years of watching and waiting, my ol' ticker is poopin' out and my Stanford cardiac team tells me now is the time to intervene.  I have diastolic heart failure and
increased pressures in my heart and lungs which is way bad juju!

August 13, 2020 I am scheduled for surgery to attempt the removal of the tumor
from my left ventricle.  Because I am, "One of one," as my cardiologist says, no one is really sure if the tumor can be removed safely.  Because of this, I have been
approved for a heart transplant and will be placed on the transplant list should
the tumor be unable to be remove.

The recovery for the open heart surgery, or attempt thereof, will use up the
balance of my sick and personal leave.  I will need to utilize the Family Medical
Leave Act (FMLA), which aids in maintaining my position at the school district
where I work for a certain time, but is without pay.  I will need assistance in
keeping the roof over my head, putting food on the table, maintaining my utilities and the like. 

Should the surgery be unsuccessful and I have to have a transplant, then I will be
facing having to pay the full premium of my medical insurance in addition to relocating from Nevada to California for nearly 4 months after the transplant for
recovery and rehabilitation.  This will put a severe financial strain on my single gal income. 

I'm trying to be optimistic and have a lot of hope that the surgery will be
successful, so I've kept my campaign goal pretty low right now.  It will help, as I
said, with a couple of months of basic survival needs and a few hotel rooms for
trips back and forth to Stanford.  Should the need for transplant arise, I will ask
for further assistance in the form of charities devoted to transplant recipients and the kindness of friends, family, and strangers once again.

It's my hope to be able to continue to enjoy the beautiful mountains I love so, the peacefulness of nature, my cats, my friends and my family, being creative, reading a good book, and piddling in the kitchen without the fatigue and shortness of
breath that plagues me with my heart failure.

It's not easy to ask for financial help, but as a wise woman said to me recently,
"Everything happens for a reason and perhaps this tumor is one way of teaching
you to put yourself first for a change."  As much as I hate to admit it, I do need
help.  And this time I do have to put myself first.  Any assistance you might be able to provide, no matter the size, will aid me greatly. 

Many, many thanks in advance!!

Oh, and before I forget, you can learn more about me and my journey through this cardiac conundrum on my Caring Bridge website.  Visit me at https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elizabethmartin 

With a grateful heart,
Elizabeth