Donation protected
LIFE AND DEATH HEART SURGERY
Meet my BFF in the whole world, Shonda (she's the one on the left in the main pic)! Shonda and I met in college in 1990 at Eastern Kentucky University. We were in a class for critical analysis of American literature, Huckleberry Finn, to be exact. Our professor was a pain in the rear and was consistently writing on Shonda’s papers “your point?” or “and your point?”. It became a running joke between us. Shonda and I have been through so much together over the course of our 27-year friendship. We’ve watched “Beaches” together, identified with the appropriate character, and cried our eyes out stating that this was us, for sure. Shonda is SO special to me because she is special in so many ways. Shonda is witty, funny, caring, modest, confident, sweet, loving, and “an embarrassment from which the family will never recover (sic)”-ask her about the Yiddish interpretation of her name.
Not only is Shonda all of the above and then some, she was also born with Marfan Syndrome. This is a connective tissue disorder that can impact the heart and its valves. Shonda’s father died at the age of 30 from the disease. Shonda has endured three valve replacements with her first being at the age of 22. She has had a pacemaker for quite some time with regular replacements and battery changes, as necessary. She has suffered multiple mini-strokes. Yet through all of this her optimism remains high and her will equally as strong. These constant interruptions in life have made it difficult for her to further her career after graduation from college. She has given herself to her family and put herself second to those she loves. She is now in need of yet another heart surgery that poses fatal consequences whether it’s done or not. Shonda’s cardiologist referred her to a specialist in Houston, TX at the Texas Heart Institute. Shonda’s case has been accepted and surgery is scheduled for July 13th, barring any urgent needs or further complications.
https://www.marfan.org/about/marfan
Shonda is from a smaller family and is limited on personal income at this point in her life. I’m putting this out there to get some funds together to pay for out-of-pocket expenses for she and her mother through this journey. They will need money for the following: gas and preparatory maintenance for the vehicle, lodging (en route and while there), food for two, co-pays after insurance payment for surgery and aftercare. My goal is to raise $6000 for her cause by July 1st, at the latest. There is much planning that needs to be completed sooner than this date.
Shonda is my best friend and I want to celebrate life with her for many years to come, after all, she IS my BFF in the WHOLE world!
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Meet my BFF in the whole world, Shonda (she's the one on the left in the main pic)! Shonda and I met in college in 1990 at Eastern Kentucky University. We were in a class for critical analysis of American literature, Huckleberry Finn, to be exact. Our professor was a pain in the rear and was consistently writing on Shonda’s papers “your point?” or “and your point?”. It became a running joke between us. Shonda and I have been through so much together over the course of our 27-year friendship. We’ve watched “Beaches” together, identified with the appropriate character, and cried our eyes out stating that this was us, for sure. Shonda is SO special to me because she is special in so many ways. Shonda is witty, funny, caring, modest, confident, sweet, loving, and “an embarrassment from which the family will never recover (sic)”-ask her about the Yiddish interpretation of her name.
Not only is Shonda all of the above and then some, she was also born with Marfan Syndrome. This is a connective tissue disorder that can impact the heart and its valves. Shonda’s father died at the age of 30 from the disease. Shonda has endured three valve replacements with her first being at the age of 22. She has had a pacemaker for quite some time with regular replacements and battery changes, as necessary. She has suffered multiple mini-strokes. Yet through all of this her optimism remains high and her will equally as strong. These constant interruptions in life have made it difficult for her to further her career after graduation from college. She has given herself to her family and put herself second to those she loves. She is now in need of yet another heart surgery that poses fatal consequences whether it’s done or not. Shonda’s cardiologist referred her to a specialist in Houston, TX at the Texas Heart Institute. Shonda’s case has been accepted and surgery is scheduled for July 13th, barring any urgent needs or further complications.
https://www.marfan.org/about/marfan
Shonda is from a smaller family and is limited on personal income at this point in her life. I’m putting this out there to get some funds together to pay for out-of-pocket expenses for she and her mother through this journey. They will need money for the following: gas and preparatory maintenance for the vehicle, lodging (en route and while there), food for two, co-pays after insurance payment for surgery and aftercare. My goal is to raise $6000 for her cause by July 1st, at the latest. There is much planning that needs to be completed sooner than this date.
Shonda is my best friend and I want to celebrate life with her for many years to come, after all, she IS my BFF in the WHOLE world!
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Organizer and beneficiary
Leslie Roberts
Organizer
Clarksville, TN
Shonda Brown
Beneficiary