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Dear friends, old and new, Cara needs your help!
Our beautiful friend Cara is in the fight of her life. Her heart is at end-stage heart failure and she desperately needs a heart transplant.
Cara was born with congenital heart disease (CHD Pulmonary Atresia). This condition meant that Cara had no outlet on the right side of her heart and an extremely underdeveloped right ventricle. Basically, as the patent ductus was closing, there was no way for her body to get the blood to her lungs to be oxygenated.
Cara had her first open-heart surgery already when she was 3 days old. The condition was so severe that the doctors told Cara’s parents that she wouldn’t live for long, and to take Cara home and enjoy whatever time was left with her.
Leading up to her early thirties, Cara had already gone through 4 open-heart surgeries but was still living a relatively normal life. At age 32, Cara had her 5th open-heart surgery, but she didn’t bounce back the same way that she was used to. As her heart was failing and her symptoms becoming extreme, she was also told that she cannot carry her own pregnancy. Cara had always dreamt of having her own family, and realising this truth was devastating for her and her fiancé. The news of her declining health along with the inability to carry a child resulted in dark days of depression.
2021 has been a journey to find out if she is eligible for a heart transplant due to her end-stage heart failure. The process to be wait-listed for an organ transplant is a lengthy one. For Cara, it has been emotionally draining and filled with an abundance of medical tests to decide whether she would be eligible for a heart transplant.
Recently, Cara got the phone call to inform her that she has been put on the waitlist. This heart transplant surgery will be life-changing, and will also bring along many challenges. Cara will also have to relocate to Sydney for at least 3 months as soon as she receives the call. With a recovery time of up to 1 year, Cara will be faced with financial distress due to medical and travel expenses. She won’t be able to work, and she isn’t eligible to receive any financial support from the Australian Government during this time.
This heart transplant is the last bit of hope, for Cara and her family.
About Cara
Cara is quite spiritual, loves travelling and being free. She met the love of her life, Pavel, in Canada, and their dream is to get married in 2022.
Cara and I met each other in Colorado at a girl scout camp. We connected immediately Cara thinking I was Australian. She was wrong but we connected whilst chatting, she was feeling quite overwhelmed that she had left home so soon after major heart surgery but she really wanted to travel, she was telling me stories about her Mum travelling:) We had camp names Cara called herself 'Zipper' because of the scar from surgery that is up her chest and on her neck. I was 'Casper' because I am Scottish and Scottish people are typically really pale haha, well under all my fake tan I am very pale like a ghost. Bear in mind we were only 21 :)
If it wasn't for meeting Cara I wouldn't have ever entertained the idea of travelling to Australia. I now live here. She has this way of influencing people to follow their hearts and dreams. She has a lot of empathy for others and is very caring.
Before Cara's heart failed, she was living a relatively normal life. However, today is a very different situation and she now experiences these symptoms daily:
- Tiredness & dizziness
- Nausea - due to medication and other organs not getting enough blood
- Fullness in her chest that feels really heavy
- Forgetful and confused - this is a result of not getting enough oxygen to her brain
- Her heart beats out of rhythm on a regular basis
- Somedays breathless to the point where she feels like she is running a race but in actual fact is staying still
How you can help:
Let’s help Cara and her family! By donating, even a small amount can help relieve the financial stress during the recovery process. Follow Cara’s story on her Instagram Wildheart1984
By registering as an organ donor, you can also help spread the awareness & importance of organ donation. You can join the Australian Organ & Tissue Authority at www.donatelife.gov.au .
Thanks from the bottom of our hearts!
Our beautiful friend Cara is in the fight of her life. Her heart is at end-stage heart failure and she desperately needs a heart transplant.
Cara was born with congenital heart disease (CHD Pulmonary Atresia). This condition meant that Cara had no outlet on the right side of her heart and an extremely underdeveloped right ventricle. Basically, as the patent ductus was closing, there was no way for her body to get the blood to her lungs to be oxygenated.
Cara had her first open-heart surgery already when she was 3 days old. The condition was so severe that the doctors told Cara’s parents that she wouldn’t live for long, and to take Cara home and enjoy whatever time was left with her.
Leading up to her early thirties, Cara had already gone through 4 open-heart surgeries but was still living a relatively normal life. At age 32, Cara had her 5th open-heart surgery, but she didn’t bounce back the same way that she was used to. As her heart was failing and her symptoms becoming extreme, she was also told that she cannot carry her own pregnancy. Cara had always dreamt of having her own family, and realising this truth was devastating for her and her fiancé. The news of her declining health along with the inability to carry a child resulted in dark days of depression.
2021 has been a journey to find out if she is eligible for a heart transplant due to her end-stage heart failure. The process to be wait-listed for an organ transplant is a lengthy one. For Cara, it has been emotionally draining and filled with an abundance of medical tests to decide whether she would be eligible for a heart transplant.
Recently, Cara got the phone call to inform her that she has been put on the waitlist. This heart transplant surgery will be life-changing, and will also bring along many challenges. Cara will also have to relocate to Sydney for at least 3 months as soon as she receives the call. With a recovery time of up to 1 year, Cara will be faced with financial distress due to medical and travel expenses. She won’t be able to work, and she isn’t eligible to receive any financial support from the Australian Government during this time.
This heart transplant is the last bit of hope, for Cara and her family.
About Cara
Cara is quite spiritual, loves travelling and being free. She met the love of her life, Pavel, in Canada, and their dream is to get married in 2022.
Cara and I met each other in Colorado at a girl scout camp. We connected immediately Cara thinking I was Australian. She was wrong but we connected whilst chatting, she was feeling quite overwhelmed that she had left home so soon after major heart surgery but she really wanted to travel, she was telling me stories about her Mum travelling:) We had camp names Cara called herself 'Zipper' because of the scar from surgery that is up her chest and on her neck. I was 'Casper' because I am Scottish and Scottish people are typically really pale haha, well under all my fake tan I am very pale like a ghost. Bear in mind we were only 21 :)
If it wasn't for meeting Cara I wouldn't have ever entertained the idea of travelling to Australia. I now live here. She has this way of influencing people to follow their hearts and dreams. She has a lot of empathy for others and is very caring.
Before Cara's heart failed, she was living a relatively normal life. However, today is a very different situation and she now experiences these symptoms daily:
- Tiredness & dizziness
- Nausea - due to medication and other organs not getting enough blood
- Fullness in her chest that feels really heavy
- Forgetful and confused - this is a result of not getting enough oxygen to her brain
- Her heart beats out of rhythm on a regular basis
- Somedays breathless to the point where she feels like she is running a race but in actual fact is staying still
How you can help:
Let’s help Cara and her family! By donating, even a small amount can help relieve the financial stress during the recovery process. Follow Cara’s story on her Instagram Wildheart1984
By registering as an organ donor, you can also help spread the awareness & importance of organ donation. You can join the Australian Organ & Tissue Authority at www.donatelife.gov.au .
Thanks from the bottom of our hearts!
Organizer and beneficiary
Cara Curan
Beneficiary