Heart & Kidney: Things have changed and I am facing 3-6 months to live. 

Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,

I am writing to you this evening to let everyone know that I have been given 3-6 months to live if my condition continues to worsen.  My surgical teams are currently working to ensure I am a viable candidate for a dual transplant.   

As many of you know from my initial campaign, my journey began with the diagnosis of end-stage kidney disease. For months, I have shared the ups and downs of life on dialysis, and your incredible support has been the only thing keeping me afloat during those long hours in the clinic. I started this GoFundMe to help cover the costs of a kidney transplant, but today, I have to share a significant and daunting update to that plan.

During my most recent pre-transplant evaluations, my medical team discovered that the toll on my body has been greater than we realized. My heart is no longer strong enough to support my body through a kidney transplant alone.

Apparently, my heart and kidney are so codependent they’ve decided they can only leave the party together. I have now been officially listed for a dual transplant: both a heart and a kidney.

HEART & KIDNEY WARRIOR

Double the fight, double the strength. (And hopefully, double the energy once this is over!)

The Reality of a Dual Transplant: Why Preparation is Everything

Undergoing a dual transplant—or a multi-organ transplant—is a rare and monumental medical undertaking. It isn't just "two surgeries"; it's a synchronized effort to give my body a complete restart.

Here is why being prepared right now is so crucial:

The Survival Advantage: While the surgery is complex, statistics show that patients who receive a heart and kidney together often have better long-term outcomes than those who receive a heart transplant while suffering from kidney failure. The new kidney actually helps protect the new heart from the stress of dialysis.

The "Window of Opportunity": My medical team has emphasized that survival rates are highest when the patient is "optimally prepared"—meaning I need to be in the best physical and financial position possible before the call comes.

The One-Year Milestone: Data shows that once a dual-transplant patient crosses the one-year mark, their long-term survival rates are excellent. Getting through this first year requires an incredible amount of resources, 24/7 care, and strict medical adherence.

Facing the Fear: Mental Health & Resilience

I want to be completely honest with you all: I am scared. It’s one thing to face a kidney transplant; it’s another to realize your heart is in the balance, too. There are nights when the "what-ifs" feel louder than my hope. I’ve realized that to survive this, I can't just fix my organs; I have to take care of my mind.

I have started working with specialized transplant counselors to help me navigate the anxiety, the grief of losing my "normal" life, and the sheer weight of this waiting game. Seeking mental health support has been one of the hardest but most important parts of my "prep work." It’s giving me the tools to stay grounded so that when the call finally comes, I am mentally ready.

The Long Road Before the Surgery

The "pre-transplant" phase is a full-time job that unfortunately doesn't pay very well. To even qualify for this surgery, I am undergoing an exhaustive battery of screenings. At this point, I’m pretty sure the hospital has more photos of my internal organs than I have of my own restaurant.

My weeks are now filled with:

Cardiac Catheterizations: To monitor the pressure and health of my heart.

Extensive Blood Work: I’ve given so many vials lately, I’m expecting a thank-you card from the local vampire community.

Imaging & Stress Tests: Hours of CT scans and echos to map out the surgery.

Counseling & Evaluations: Ensuring my mind is as resilient as the rest of me needs to be.

A Community at Risk: My Restaurant & Team

The hardest part of this isn't just the physical toll—it's the reality of what I’m leaving behind during this process. These screenings require me to be away from my restaurant for days and weeks at a time.

As a small business owner, my restaurant is my life’s work, and my employees are like family to me. This diagnosis has put everything at risk:

Loss of Income: I am already missing a significant amount of work due to the sheer volume of medical appointments. Turns out, you can't really run a kitchen from the inside of an MRI machine.

Business Stability: Without being there to lead, I worry every day about the future of the shop and the livelihoods of the people who work for me. They depend on this restaurant to feed their own families, and that weight is heavy on my mind.

How You Can Help

The financial burden has shifted from "medical bills" to "survival." We are fighting to keep the business afloat, pay my team, and cover the rising costs of pre-transplant care and eventual relocation for the surgery.

If you aren't in a position to give financially, please consider:

Sharing this update: Posting this link on your social media helps reach people I might not know.

Supporting the Restaurant: If you are local, please come eat! Supporting my team is the best way to support me right now. (Plus, the food is much better than hospital Jell-O).

Keeping us in your thoughts: Your prayers and messages of encouragement keep me going on the hard days.

Thank you for standing by me, my family, and my employees as I prepare for the biggest "BOGO" deal of my life.

With love and gratitude,

Cheffy