Hi everyone, My name is Stacy, and I’m starting this GoFundMe on behalf of my friend Chuck because he’s going through one of the toughest battles of his life and he’s always been the kind of person who hates asking for help, even when he needs it most. Chuck is an incredible survivor. Chuck and I were born with the same complex congenital heart defect, d-TGA ! Chuck received his first heart transplant in 2013, which gave him years of renewed life. Sadly, it developed coronary artery disease, so in 2021 he underwent a second heart transplant. Through it all, he’s shown unbelievable strength and gratitude for every day he’s been given.

This past summer (2025) brought heartbreaking challenges: a painful divorce and a severe motorcycle accident that broke his back. He spent three weeks in the hospital recovering and only returned to work at the beginning of November. He was finally starting to rebuild his life, pushing through the pain with determination. Then, on Christmas Day, everything changed in an instant. Chuck was admitted to the hospital for urgent tests, and the diagnosis was devastating: he’s now in congestive heart failure, along with status 2R cellular rejection of his transplanted heart. The rejection and fluid retention have also impacted his lungs, making it hard to breathe and move. He hasn’t been able to work since Christmas Day, and right now, his doctors can’t say when he’ll be able to return, if at all in the near future. With no income since late December, the financial strain is overwhelming on top of the physical and emotional toll. Even with insurance, the costs are piling up quickly:

• Hospital stays, frequent tests, doctor visits, and ongoing care: Recent admissions, pulmonary function tests, monitoring, and potential procedures add up fast, with copays and uncovered portions hitting hard.

• Essential vitamins, supplements, additional medications, transportation, and dietary needs — While the main anti-rejection drugs are more manageable right now thanks to insurance and generics, Chuck requires a large regimen of supportive vitamins (like vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, multivitamins, etc.), other prescriptions, and over-the-counter items to counteract medication side effects, support bone health (especially after his back injury), manage nutrient levels, and help with heart failure symptoms. These alone add up to hundreds of dollars per month, plus frequent copays for doctor visits, tests, and any covered prescriptions. On top of that, getting to and from all his frequent medical appointments incurs significant costs for gas, vehicle maintenance (due to increased mileage and wear from repeated trips), and hospital parking fees (which can be $10–$30+ per visit at many medical centers). Finally, his severely compromised immune system requires a strict, heart-healthy, low-sodium diet with fresh produce, lean proteins, and carefully selected foods to avoid infection risks—specialty or higher-quality groceries that cost more than a standard diet. Keeping everything consistent without interruption is vital to prevent complications during this rejection and heart failure crisis.

• Basic living expenses — Rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries (beyond the strict diet), and other essentials. The back injury recovery already made things tight; this new crisis has made it impossible without support.

Chuck is a fighter! He’s survived two heart transplants, a major accident, and more than most people could imagine but he can’t face this alone right now. I’m stepping in to help him because I know how hard it is to ask for help, especially financial support! I believe in Chuck’s strength to get through another setback but he needs support. Every donation will go directly and urgently to these critical needs, starting with keeping a roof over his head and the lights on while he’s frequently in and out of the hospital: covering rent/mortgage and utilities to maintain stability during his ongoing medical care, medical bills, keeping his critical vitamins/supplements/meds filled, paying for gas, vehicle maintenance, transportation and parking, affording his necessary diet, and supporting other daily essentials so he can focus on healing instead of constant worry about finances.

If you can’t donate, please share this fundraiser far and wide, your network could reach someone who can make a real difference. Even a kind message of encouragement would mean the world to him. Thank you from the bottom of my gifted heart for reading Chuck’s story and considering helping. Your support could literally help save his life and give him the chance to keep fighting.

With deep gratitude,

Stacy Minnis

Fellow CHDer and Heart Transplant Patient ❤️‍