Hi, my name is Tammy, and I am fundraising for Jenn, Mack and Kaitlyn.

I am hoping our community will come together to support Jenn, Mack and Kaitlyn as they face an incredibly challenging time. Mack is undergoing open-heart surgery, and both Jenn and Mack have been unable to work as they focus entirely on her care and recovery. This has placed a heavy financial strain on the family at a time when their only priority should be Mack’s healing. We are asking for support so they can stay by Mack’s side without the added worry of mounting expenses. Any contribution, big or small, will make a meaningful difference to this loving family.

My name is Mack. I’m 21 years old, with a passion for dancing, singing, and makeup artistry, and I’ve always dreamed of performing on stage. I’m a kind, compassionate, and deeply emotional person and I also have autism. Until recently, I was a proud graduate of a musical theatre program, working toward the future I had always imagined for myself.

In March 2022, my life changed when I was diagnosed with Rheumatic Heart Disease / Multivalve Disease. Only a few months later, in September 2022, I began my post-secondary diploma in Musical Theatre Performance at St. Clair College. Throughout school, my symptoms worsened, and I had frequent appointments at Toronto General Hospital. Even as my health declined, I pushed through because musical theatre meant everything to me.

In July 2023, I underwent my first open-heart surgery to repair my mitral valve. After six weeks of recovery, I returned to school on a modified program, determined to continue my education. When the repair proved successful, I slowly regained my strength. By four months post-surgery, I was performing in a full musical production something that gave me purpose, joy, and stability, especially with my autism diagnosis.

By my third and final year, I was singing and dancing better than I ever had. I was excited to graduate in April 2025 and begin auditioning, working, and building a career in the musical theatre industry.

But everything changed again.

In July 2025, I began experiencing severe symptoms. At my checkup in August, doctors discovered that the mitral valve repair had failed and all four of my heart valves were no longer functioning properly three with severe regurgitation and one with moderate regurgitation. My symptoms shortness of breath, chest pain, pressure, and extreme fatigue led to strict bed rest.

I could no longer work, pay my OSAP, cover my bills, or audition. As my health worsened, my mom and sister became my full-time caregivers. My mom had to stop working, and because she has no benefits, it has been extremely difficult for us to manage financially. The stress of my health and the financial strain has been overwhelming for my whole family.

After many appointments, doctors determined that I now need all four of my heart valves replaced. The team at Toronto General Hospital has begun referring to me as a “medical mystery,” as they have been unable to determine the cause of my rapid heart failure. This surgery is extremely high risk one that has never been performed in Canada, and only a few times successfully in the United States, as far as we know. I have been told plainly that without this surgery that is coming up quickly on January 5th I will not survive.

My family and I now travel to Toronto weekly for appointments, and the cost of gas, parking, and lost work hours has become overwhelming. My condition also means that surgeries will likely be a permanent part of my life, with the possibility of eventually needing a heart transplant. Medical appointments, testing, and procedures will always be part of my journey.

My mental health has also taken a toll. Therapy is essential for me as I navigate the grief of losing the career I worked so hard for, but without benefits, weekly sessions are expensive. I’ve had to face the heartbreaking reality that even after surgery, I will never be able to dance or perform musical theatre again. The stage was my safe place, my outlet, my stability, and the thing that helped me manage my anxiety with autism and the thing I love the most.

Every day is physically and emotionally challenging. But I’m fighting, and my family is fighting with me.

My life will never be what I imagined. This disease and the surgery ahead will bring permanent, life-changing outcomes. I may never be able to have children and if I ever do, it would be an extremely high-risk pregnancy. I will never perform on stage again, which has been heartbreaking to accept after dedicating my life to musical theatre. I also know that my ongoing surgeries, unpredictable health, and potential complications will make relationships more difficult and place strain on every part of my life.

If you are able to help support my medical, travel, therapy, and living expenses during this difficult time, it would mean more than I can ever express. Thank you for reading my story and for supporting me through the hardest chapter of my life.