Curstyn Clark's Open Heart Surgery Fund. PAPVR,

For Curstyn Clark 2025 has been very eventful and life changing. On January 8th, 2025, Curstyn delivered the most precious baby girl, Victoria Rose Korbar-Clark. While Curstyn was pregnant, she experienced excess tiredness, easily getting out of breath and dizziness. As this was her first pregnancy, it was thought to be normal pregnancy symptoms.

After Curstyn's pregnancy her symptoms still continued to progress. After a trip to her doctor and additional testing, she was taken off of work and referred to Barnes Jewish Hospital to see a Cardio Thoracic Surgeon.

Curstyn was then diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return, PAPVR. This is a rare condition that is usually detected at birth. Curstyn did not show symptoms until middle school, when she was diagnosed with asthma and when in high school Curstyn began to have high blood pressure. One percent of children diagnosed with asthma have this congenital heart defect PAPVR. That one percent is not usually diagnosed until their 50s or up. It isn't common to be detected in a 25-year-old.

The only treatment is surgical repair. PAPVR is congenital heart defect where some of the blood vessels to the lungs attach to the wrong place in the heart. A typical heart, oxygen rich blood returns from the lungs to the upper left heart chamber and then goes to the body. In PAPVR, blood flows from the lungs to the upper right heart chamber and then goes to the lungs even though it already has oxygen. This means the right side of the heart has to handle the extra blood flow which causes the right side of the heart to work harder.

Curstyn has a long healing journey ahead of her not only physically but emotionally, as well. Curstyn absolutely loves being a mom and she is an amazing mother. At Curstyn's first appointment she was told by the surgeon she will not be able to take care of her baby. The first month is very critical for Curstyn's recovery process and that is something that will also make this a long emotional and physical recovery process. Curstyn and Viki have nothing but love and support to help her through this time. If you would like to help, make this process a little less stressful for Curstyn, you have the opportunity to do so here. As her medical bills are continuing to increase and she went straight from maternity leave to being put on leave for PAPVR. Being able to care for yourself and care for a newborn is a blessing and when that has changed due to something out of your control and at a time when you should be able to just enjoy being a first-time mom, that is very stressful. That is something that is not healthy with Curstyn current situation. If you would like to help her relieve some of that stress during her recovery process, you may do so here. If you are not comfortable doing that here, you may reach out to Curstyn. She will be available until August 18, 2025. If you are able to show your support by sharing this link, that is just as appreciated. Thank you for taking time to read Curstyn's journey.

We will be posting updates of her upcoming procedures and after her surgery, if you would like to follow her recovery process.

Thank you