<div>If you know David, you know...
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<div>He’s a father to Liam.
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<div>A husband and partner to me.
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<div>A son, a brother, an uncle.
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<div>A dance partner, a good friend, and chosen family to so many.
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<div>He’s my partner in all of this—
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<div>in life, in the messy middle, in the plans that change.
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<div>And right now, we just want him here.
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<div>Healthy. On the other side of this.
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<div><strong>Why We’re Here</strong>
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<div>This is not an easy thing for us to share.
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<div>If you know me, you know I’m usually the one helping other people figure things out—making a plan, finding a way forward, holding it together.
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<div>Right now, it’s our turn to ask for help.
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<div>On May 14th, David will undergo open-heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic to repair an aortic root aneurysm.
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<div>It’s the kind of sentence that still doesn’t quite feel real when I say it out loud.
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<div><strong>How We Got Here</strong>
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<div>Two years ago, what we thought was a one-time heart rhythm issue turned into something much bigger.
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<div>That moment led to a diagnosis we had never heard of before: <strong>Loeys-Dietz Syndrome.</strong>
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<div>It’s rare—affecting roughly 1 in 100,000–200,000 people. David’s subtype is even more rare.
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<div>Loeys-Dietz affects connective tissue, especially the blood vessels—making them more fragile and more prone to stretching or tearing without much warning.
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<div>In many cases, aneurysms can become dangerous earlier than expected, which is why timing matters so much with surgery.
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<div>Which is how we got here.
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<div><strong>Why This Surgery Matters</strong>
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<div>David’s aortic root aneurysm has reached the point where waiting is no longer safe.
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<div>This surgery isn’t optional. It’s preventative in the most real sense of the word.
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<div>Because with this condition, the alternative isn’t “we’ll deal with it later.”
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<div>It’s something we’re not willing to risk.
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<div>With the right surgical team, at the right time, this procedure gives David more time.
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<div>And right now, that’s everything.
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<div>That’s what we’re choosing:
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<div>more time, and a future we still get to build together.
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<div><strong>What We’re Navigating</strong>
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<div>Insurance is covering a significant portion of this surgery, and we are deeply grateful for that.
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<div>And still, this kind of moment comes with a real financial impact.
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<div>We were initially preparing for about $8,000 in out-of-pocket medical costs.
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<div>Then, in the last few days, things shifted.
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<div>David was laid off just four hours after notifying his employer of the surgery and his intent to apply for FMLA.
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<div>That means we are now also navigating:
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<li>approximately $1,000 for COBRA coverage 
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<li>approximately $7,000 in lost wages for May alone 
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<div>That brings the immediate gap to around $16,000.
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<div>We are doing what we can—adjusting work, taking on more where possible, and planning carefully.
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<div>And it’s still more than we can comfortably absorb on our own.
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<div><strong>How You Can Help</strong>
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<div>If you feel called to contribute, it would mean more than we can fully put into words.
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<div>If giving isn’t possible, sharing this helps just as much.
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<div>Every bit of support creates more breathing room, so we can focus on what matters most: David’s surgery, his recovery, and getting through to the other side of this.
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<div><strong>Looking Ahead</strong>
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<div>When we are through this and back on stable ground, we plan to pay this forward with a matching donation to the<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.loeysdietz.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Loeys Dietz Syndrome Foundation</strong></a><strong>.</strong>
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<div>This experience has already shown us how much community matters, and we want to be part of that for others, too.
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<div><strong>A Small, Personal Ask</strong>
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<div>David shared something simple that feels important to pass along:
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<div>He doesn’t want to be treated differently through this.
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<div>No heavy energy. No “I’m so sorry.”
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<div>What does feel good:
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<div>Good thoughts.
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<div>Good energy.
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<div>And the gentlest of hugs as he recovers.
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<div><strong>Thank You</strong>
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<div>For reading this.
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<div>For sharing it.
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<div>For being part of our lives in whatever way you are.
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<div>We’ll keep you updated as we move through this.
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<div>With a lot of gratitude,
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<div>Janell
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Help David Get Through Life-Saving Aortic Surgery

Help David Get Through Life-Saving Aortic Surgery

Still $1,260 to go. Help us build momentum.