Donate to Emily's Heart Surgery and Recovery

Hello, I’m Emily and my heart is broken. This is the 2nd hardest thing I have had to write and I hope that anyone reading understands that asking for help is something that I am deeply uncomfortable with. I am only doing so because I truly need the support of my extended community at this time.

On 4/4/2025, after finally going to the doctor to see if I could find the answer to a lifetime of random fainting episodes, I was officially diagnosed with a Ruptured Sinus of the Valsalva Aneurysm. In the simplest terms, I have a hole in my heart. We will never know the exact circumstances behind why and how but it’s almost certainly because of a congenital defect that weakened my aortic tissue. I will be undergoing open-heart surgery within the next month or so that will save my life.

The positives are that we caught it before it killed me. I have an excellent team of doctors who have been very attentive and supportive and they will fix it so that I can continue living. My immediate support system has been similarly incredible and I will have a lot of assistance throughout my recovery. I have great health insurance and will be able to take extended leave from work and be paid a percentage of my regular wage by the state.

However, the cost of the operation will still be significant and the pay that I get from the state will basically only cover my rent- not other bills, necessities, or my cats’ needs. I am terrified that I will recover from surgery only to face a huge debt that I will not be able to pay. $2,000 is my maximum out-of-pocket so raising that amount would at least help alleviate cost of the operation so that I can hopefully focus on getting better and not my financial survival.

if you are able to help, I appreciate any level of donation. My pride and discomfort are fighting against asking for this help with all their might- I truly would not be asking if this were not such a terrifying burden for me.

Thank you for any thoughts, consideration, or donations that you may be able to spare. It really does mean the world to me.

-Emily