Diane Esposito Heart Surgery and Recovery Fund
Donation protected
On Christmas Day 2018, I asked my ex-husband Dave to drive me to the ER. I had a 3 month history of intermittent foot and ankle swelling and progressive shortness of breath for which I had consulted 2 physicians and neither was especially concerned until an EKG on 12/13/18 showed a “slight arrhythmia.” I was scheduled for a stress test and echocardiogram on 1/04/19, but the shortness of breath and exhaustion got so bad that we went to the ER instead. I was shocked to discover that I was in a-fib, and congestive heart failure ,my lungs were full of fluid. Very scary stuff.
Thanks to my new cardiologist Dr. Fawad Kazi, I made it through the 5 day hospital stay and after both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms were done I learned that I had a severely regurgitant mitral valve, a moderately leaky tricuspid valve in addition to the a-fib. I knew that I was born with a borderline mitral valve prolapse but had never had any problems or symptoms before this past September.
My cousins who had worked many years at Yale New Haven Hospital recommended Sabet Hashim, MD who had left Yale to open the Heart and Vascular Institute at Hartford Hospital in 2016. During these months of waiting for surgery my heart has gone back to regular rhythm and heart pumping strength is nearly normal however the mitral valve needs to be repaired.
My surgery will be on 4/24/19 at Hartford Hospital The hardest part so far has been the waiting and the financial difficulties as I’ve been without income beyond social security retirement benefits (which only covers the rent ) since 12/21st. After the surgery it will be at least another 2-3 months before I can safely work full time.
I’m asking for help to avoid losing my apartment and my car due to the medical expenses. I know that I’ll only be able to get through this with “ a little help from my friends “ even though it’s extremely difficult for me to ask for this help. If you are able to donate, you will be literally helping to save my life. I know what it’s like to be without money so if you can’t donate, just share this on your page instead. Thank you.
Thanks to my new cardiologist Dr. Fawad Kazi, I made it through the 5 day hospital stay and after both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms were done I learned that I had a severely regurgitant mitral valve, a moderately leaky tricuspid valve in addition to the a-fib. I knew that I was born with a borderline mitral valve prolapse but had never had any problems or symptoms before this past September.
My cousins who had worked many years at Yale New Haven Hospital recommended Sabet Hashim, MD who had left Yale to open the Heart and Vascular Institute at Hartford Hospital in 2016. During these months of waiting for surgery my heart has gone back to regular rhythm and heart pumping strength is nearly normal however the mitral valve needs to be repaired.
My surgery will be on 4/24/19 at Hartford Hospital The hardest part so far has been the waiting and the financial difficulties as I’ve been without income beyond social security retirement benefits (which only covers the rent ) since 12/21st. After the surgery it will be at least another 2-3 months before I can safely work full time.
I’m asking for help to avoid losing my apartment and my car due to the medical expenses. I know that I’ll only be able to get through this with “ a little help from my friends “ even though it’s extremely difficult for me to ask for this help. If you are able to donate, you will be literally helping to save my life. I know what it’s like to be without money so if you can’t donate, just share this on your page instead. Thank you.
Fundraising team: The Heart Warriors (2)
Diane M Esposito
Organizer
Bristol, CT
Chris Blum
Team member
