For Beth's Heart
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Thank you so much for visiting our page! My name is Allison and my sister, Cara, and I are writing this for our mom, Beth, who is undergoing a thoracic aortic replacement surgery with limited health insurance and no disability coverage through her job. This is a critical, life saving open-heart surgery that will require all of her strength to be focused on her long road to recovery. As a result, she is struggling to find peace because she is unable to cover all the expenses related to this surgery due to her circumstances.
My mom and I have Marfan Syndrome, a genetic disease that weakens the connective tissue, which happens to be the glue that holds the body together. This condition makes my mom vulnerable to connective tissue tears, or dissections, which is how we ended up here. 20 years ago, my mom had her first aortic replacement surgery on her ascending aorta which was successful. We hoped that that was the only open-heart surgery she would need in her lifetime. We had a scare 10 years ago when she experienced her first aortic dissection. I’ll never forget the day I woke up and walked into my mom’s room to find her sitting on the end of her bed clutching her chest, unable to breathe. Cara helped me back to my room and told me to stay there until she said everything was ok. I was 12, and I couldn’t stop thinking that this might be the last time I ever saw my mom. All I could think in that moment was that my grandmother, my mom’s mom who also had Marfan Syndrome, and had passed away from an aortic dissection when my mom was only 10, not much younger than I was at the time. It was terrifying. Fortunately, my mom knew she had Marfan’s and was able to be an advocate for herself in the hospital. After telling my mom she was simply having back pain and making her wait in the emergency room for hours untreated, she essentially educated the doctors on her condition and convinced them she was having a dissection and to get her the correct treatment right away.
In 2008 when the market crashed my mom lost her job, at which point she decided to go back to school to become a nurse. She wanted to help people heal in the same way her nurses had helped her. My mom has ALWAYS put others first, often forsaking her own health or happiness to make sure others are taken care of. As a nurse, she works with geriatric patients during the day while also picking up shifts at a hospital working with patients recovering from substance abuse. My mom has so much love to give, she is a gentle and kind spirit who wants nothing more than to help others and see them happy. She’s helped so many people, and now it’s our turn to help her.
My parents divorced when I was 10 and I so admire my mom for raising two daughters while keeping our lives as close to normal as possible. However, my mother has been accumulating medical bills for her and myself as there are a limited number of doctors specializing in Marfan Syndrome.
Fortunately, we’ve found one of the best surgeons to do our mom's surgery, but this quality of care comes with a very high cost. My mom is also concerned about termination at her job because she is not eligible for FMLA protection having been there for less than a year. We are asking for help to pay for my mom’s surgery, medical bills from the hospital, and general everyday things while she is out of work and will not be earning any income. My mom already works 2 jobs to pay her bills — and with this lack of income, I’m afraid she will push herself to go back to work before she’s fully healed.
Our greatest wish is that we can help alleviate some of the financial burden we know she is facing. We would like to see her go through her recovery without the added stress of wondering how she will be able to pay for the basics like food and shelter. We ask you to please help if you can, we greatly appreciate anything
you may be able to give at this time, and we would also greatly appreciate you helping to share our mom’s story. This is major surgery and it is terrifying for me and my sister. We are trying to help my mom in any way we know how, and we would be incredibly appreciative of any help you can give.
My mom and I have Marfan Syndrome, a genetic disease that weakens the connective tissue, which happens to be the glue that holds the body together. This condition makes my mom vulnerable to connective tissue tears, or dissections, which is how we ended up here. 20 years ago, my mom had her first aortic replacement surgery on her ascending aorta which was successful. We hoped that that was the only open-heart surgery she would need in her lifetime. We had a scare 10 years ago when she experienced her first aortic dissection. I’ll never forget the day I woke up and walked into my mom’s room to find her sitting on the end of her bed clutching her chest, unable to breathe. Cara helped me back to my room and told me to stay there until she said everything was ok. I was 12, and I couldn’t stop thinking that this might be the last time I ever saw my mom. All I could think in that moment was that my grandmother, my mom’s mom who also had Marfan Syndrome, and had passed away from an aortic dissection when my mom was only 10, not much younger than I was at the time. It was terrifying. Fortunately, my mom knew she had Marfan’s and was able to be an advocate for herself in the hospital. After telling my mom she was simply having back pain and making her wait in the emergency room for hours untreated, she essentially educated the doctors on her condition and convinced them she was having a dissection and to get her the correct treatment right away.
In 2008 when the market crashed my mom lost her job, at which point she decided to go back to school to become a nurse. She wanted to help people heal in the same way her nurses had helped her. My mom has ALWAYS put others first, often forsaking her own health or happiness to make sure others are taken care of. As a nurse, she works with geriatric patients during the day while also picking up shifts at a hospital working with patients recovering from substance abuse. My mom has so much love to give, she is a gentle and kind spirit who wants nothing more than to help others and see them happy. She’s helped so many people, and now it’s our turn to help her.
My parents divorced when I was 10 and I so admire my mom for raising two daughters while keeping our lives as close to normal as possible. However, my mother has been accumulating medical bills for her and myself as there are a limited number of doctors specializing in Marfan Syndrome.
Fortunately, we’ve found one of the best surgeons to do our mom's surgery, but this quality of care comes with a very high cost. My mom is also concerned about termination at her job because she is not eligible for FMLA protection having been there for less than a year. We are asking for help to pay for my mom’s surgery, medical bills from the hospital, and general everyday things while she is out of work and will not be earning any income. My mom already works 2 jobs to pay her bills — and with this lack of income, I’m afraid she will push herself to go back to work before she’s fully healed.
Our greatest wish is that we can help alleviate some of the financial burden we know she is facing. We would like to see her go through her recovery without the added stress of wondering how she will be able to pay for the basics like food and shelter. We ask you to please help if you can, we greatly appreciate anything
you may be able to give at this time, and we would also greatly appreciate you helping to share our mom’s story. This is major surgery and it is terrifying for me and my sister. We are trying to help my mom in any way we know how, and we would be incredibly appreciative of any help you can give.
Organizer and beneficiary
Cara Brobst
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA
Beth Brobst
Beneficiary