For the Heart of Kelly

My sweet friend, Kelly Jernigan, was born with a rare congenital heart defect that was left undiagnosed and now has a heart that is not functioning properly. Three years ago, while serving in Haiti as a full-time missionary, she began going into heart failure. Unaware of the defect at the time, she was sent home to the states for medical care.  After many (many!) tests and doctor's appointments, the cardiologists at Emory diagnosed her with Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Vein Return. This defect has taken a toll on her heart. The doctors have determined that now is the time for it to be corrected so she can go on to live a happier, healthier life (and maybe even return to Haiti one day). The only way for it to be corrected is through open heart surgery. Her cardiologists decided this surgery is too difficult to be performed at Emory, so they sent her case to a world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. This particular surgeon has agreed that she is a good candidate for this difficult and lengthy surgery. Her surgery is scheduled for August 2, 2017. Kelly and her husband, Stephen, will be traveling to the Mayo Clinic at the end of July, and they need our help to get them there!

This has all happened very quickly and as you can imagine, traveling out of state for a major surgery will be very costly. Lodging, flights, car rental, food, and lost wages are just the beginning. Not to mention the medical costs that are still to come. Let's rally around this family who has made their life priority to serve others. Please help if you are able.

Above any financial assistance you provide, I ask that you pray. Pray for the surgeons - for wisdom that can only come from the Lord. Pray for Kelly -that she will rest in knowing that the Lord prepared these very specific surgeons for her heart long before she knew there was a problem. Pray for Stephen - that he can be a calming presence for Kelly during this journey and also peace of mind that this is what's best for her. Pray for sweet Grayson, their son, as he will be in school and not by her side. Pray that he will have confidence that the Lord will take great care of his mom and that he will have no worries. 

The next few months will be a very trying time for the Jernigan family, and I know they appreciate all the love and prayers during this time. 

***If you would like to give in another way, like restaurant or gas gift cards, you can reach out to myself, Kelly, or Stephen.

"So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10