Let me tell you my story.

It started in the fall of 2024. I was at a doctor appointment and the nurses noticed my blood pressure was at 180/120. I was told to get a follow-up appointment to address this new issue.

I managed to get a follow-up not long after. Blood pressure was still high but EKG showed nothing. I was diagnosed with hypertension. I was told if that if left untreated I could suffer a heart attack or stroke. I left the appointment with a 90 day supply of heart medication to help lower my blood pressure.

I had just started a new job.

I had to pay out of pocket for those visits. I just had to get through the next few months so I could get full time (insurance). One stop to the ER but all tests were normal.

Enter January 2025. I was working full time, finishing up my probation period for new hire. And my medication was running low. So I stretch it out. But at the end of January I was hit with the flu. I was out of work for a few days and struggled my first days back afterwards with dizzy spells. I blamed it on the flu.

February 2025. Started to get sporadic heartburn. Wouldn't last long and tums helped a lot. I don't get heartburn hardly ever, but I just had the flu. So, it was probably from that. But as the days went by, my heartburn started to affect my left shoulder and arm. Severe pain down to my fingertips. Radiating pain into my lower jaw. But the tums made it go away.

All the while, I've been checking my blood pressure regularly. It would spike, I'd take tums, it would lower. I just had to tough it out. I was days away from signing up for insurance.

Mid February 2025. The tums aren't working anymore. I had a hypertensive episode so horrible, that I was physically ill and in severe pain. I called for Casey (bf) and said it was time for the ER.

We got to the ER, and initial tests were run. High BP 197/127, EKG normal. Sent me for blood work. BP continued to rise to 202/129. Tests came back for high levels of troponin. I was having a NStemi heart attack. A second test showed the same so they sent me up to Abbott Northwestern Hospital.

Abbott January 16th, 2025. Arrived at 1am. Blood drawn every 2 hours to monitor troponin levels. Met with a cardiologist in the morning and made a game plan. We'd do some scans, then an angiogram if needed. If blockages were found, I'd need a stent put in. The echo showed blockages. Day 2, 8am: Cardiologist says, let's to the angiogram and angioplasty. Signed the paperwork and off I went. When I woke up, the team said I was 90% blocked in the upper artery so they put a stent in through my groin. I am 30% blocked in another artery, but it's not a concern yet.

I was pretty loopy yet but glad for the good news. The aftercare team went about checking me out and having me try to release fluids. After at least an hour of trying, I gave up. I was too hot and felt queasy. I dry heaved and felt the worst pain in my abdomen. The care team stepped in and felt around. I was instantly very popular!

In rushed my doctors from earlier. I had hemorrhaged and my abdomen was full of fluid (blood). I was bleeding internally. One member was holding pressure on my incision site as they all assessed the new crisis. Switch up the Dr/nurse applying pressure and jumping on the bed over me, they wheeled me out of the room to the OR.

Afternoon. Woke up in my room. So terribly sore. Met with the surgical team. The angioseal dislodged from the femoral artery. They found it embedded in my soft tissue in my upper hip. They had to go through the original incision site, which was now 4+ inches longer, to find the hemorrhage. I had lost around ⅓ of my blood supply. (40% can be fatal) They patched up my artery and had infused blood. Now, I had to rest.

Day 3 The new pain was terrible. I couldn't take painkillers as they make me queasy. I couldn't risk getting sick due to my major surgery in my groin. Had to infuse even more blood. I was able to stand by the end of the day.

Day 4 I was determined to get out of there. Tests were starting to even out, but most of my veins had collapsed due to continuous bloodwork. By 3pm, the doctors were satisfied I could go home with help. 6pm I was homebound.

Afterwards

4 weeks of healing at home. Casey was there every moment. A couple days after and I was set up to do cardio rehab. 36 sessions in total. I will be completing rehab at the end of May! A few follow up tests and a ton of meds to continue for the next year.

I'm back to work, but not able to get insurance as I can't work full time yet. I have supplemental insurance right now but it only started a week ago. I'm looking for help in raising money to cover some of the debt. The hospital had set up discounts as I was uninsured at the time. But at a total of over $88,000 and counting, I can't do this alone.

Any donation helps!