My name is Cherie Verber and I live in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico where I have started a program of empowering low income women by teaching them to sew and to cook and gain additional life skills, It is my passion and my joy. I have been doing this for nine years.

Please help me continue to help others by staying alive

The doctors tell me that I need 2 heart valves replaced, with surgery in two months or slightly more if I don’t want congestive heart disease to cause continued decline in my cardiac functioning and death. The medicines they have prescribed are temporarily improving how I feel and regulating my heart arrhythmia, but they will only last for a short while and surgery is needed to restore near-normal functioning. The disease is ultimately fatal, but it can be slowed down drastically to provide many more years . I’m all for that! I feel like I still have a lot to share with the Universe, and it brings me incomparable joy to do that.

The doctors estimate approximately $40,000 USD for a DOUBLE valve replacement with pig valves. If I receive any funds beyond what is needed for the medical costs, I will donate 100% of it to Auxiliando Animales, a Patzcuaro non-profit dedicated to the sterilization clinics and well-being for dogs and cats. There are too many suffering, homeless animals in Mexico, and helping them is my other passion.

Since April of 2023, I have had one health symptom or another and all the energy of a slug. It started with Covid. After two weeks in bed I thought I was done. Not so. August brought something called “long Covid.” This only got worse until last December when I developed an unrelenting cough and endless other symptoms…and the cough continued. Lots of doctor visits and lots of diagnoses. Mostly bed-ridden. Reaction to blood-thinners caused a week’s hospitalization in May. Apparently blood-thinners are a no-no for me. My body seemed to go downhill at that point. I was using a walker and a wheelchair most of the time

Bottom line: I have congestive heart failure. Apparently this is a not uncommon result of long Covid. What made it crazier through all these referrals is the fact that the exhaustive list of symptoms for long Covid is almost identical with the list for heart failure. The meds the cardiologist prescribed weren’t working for me. So there is ONE specialist in the state of Michoacan who has two years of extra training in advanced procedures, especially as related to arrhythmia, which is a major part of my problem, and my doc made a referral to him. Usually it takes 2-3 months for an appointment. I was able to get an appointment in a week!

I have undergone tons of pretty sophisticated tests and then had another consult with the specialist. He is in the process of adjusting my meds in the exact combination that works for me. My heart is slowly failing and if they can’t find any medication that works to stop and reverse the damage, it will eventually kill me, sooner or later.

They have decided that I need to have two valves replaced and they are working on getting me stronger and the arrhythmia under control (my heart rate is way too fast) in the hope of being able to do surgery in two months or a little more.

After my recovery I can return to teaching my classes and doing what I love most, with your help. So it is a question not of just me, but all the people who will benefit from a fully functioning me. Since my mind is still good, I have the potential to keep on giving for years to come

Please share this fund-raiser with anyone you can think of. Every little bit helps.

A great big thank you from the bottom of my HEART!!!