Fight For Nikki's Life

My dear friend, a mother, a veteran, was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. She is unable to work, has hospital bills to pay, and a 4 year old to care for. While waiting for disability, I am trying to get some money together so they can get by. I ask you to please pray for her and her family as she waits for a transplant. Here isa little bit of Nikki's story:

"In October of 2019, I went to the ER thinking I had a bad chest cold, or something like bronchitis. By the end of the night, I was told that I have Congestive Heart Failure, and I was admitted to the hospital. I stayed in the hospital for 2 or 3 days. I recieved a left heart catheter, and no blockages or diseases were found. I was told I was going to be sent 2 and a half hours away, to another hospital, for further tests. 


Once there, I spent 8 days being poked, and prodded, having my heart monitored, and getting fluid off of my heart. I went into that hospital at 208 pounds, and when I was released, I was weighing in at 193 ish, give or take. That means I had about 15 pounds of fluid on my heart, which is why I couldn't breathe, and had stopped breathing in my sleep a couple of times, before going to the ER.

My EF, or ejection fraction, when I went to the ER, ended up being at 28%. For my age and such, my EF should have been in the 60 range. After 3 months of medicine, and diet, my EF went up to 34%. Still low, but getting better. Two months after that, I had another echocardiogram done, and my EF had fallen backdown, again. 28% ish.

After seeing that I was getting worse, my cardiologist recommended I start the process of being evaluated for a possible LVAD, or heart transplant. So, I'm currently finishing up my evaluation, and am now waiting to see if I may end up being a good transplant candidate.

While I wait, I've been given IV medicine, and a Picc line, a big IV that goes straight to the vein outside of the heart, through my arm, and have to wear a wearable defibrillator, aka Life Vest. I am to have both until further notice. My rhythm is worrisome to the Doctor's. The medicine is to make my heart pump a bit faster, like it's already supposed to be doing, but isn't. The wearable defibrillator is to be worn in case of sudden cardiac arrest due to my rhythm. It is my "best chance at survival" until something more permanent can happen.

What started out as a viral chest cold, ended up attacking my heart, and now I have Acute Combined Systolic and Diastolic Heart Failure, and Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy, at 29 years old, and I am in the advanced/end stages of heart failure."