My name is Hannah and I am 25 years old. I have a congenital birth defect called pectus excavatum (a condition where the sternum or chest wall grows inward) which I have had my entire life. Throughout childhood I had faced symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and exercise intolerance. As a child I have had many hospital visits due to unexplained chest pain and difficulty of breathing: all which were erroneously labeled as asthma or anxiety. It took many years to find a provider who would look deeper than asthma and inhalers for my medical struggles. Now, as an adult, I have been fortunate enough to find a doctor who was willing to teach me more about pectus, and even offer a surgical solution.

Surgical correction for pectus excavatum is typically done on adolescents and young teenagers and involves the Nuss procedure, or Parq procedure. I have been approved for surgical correction due to my level of deformity severity. I have completed pulmonary function tests, a CT scan, and an echocardiogram. These tests depict a severe pectus deformity that impacts my entire sternum and significantly compresses the right side of my heart. Due to the compression, my heart has shifted to the left side and my pulmonary functions rest between 30-50%. According to the Haller index, a score over 3.5 is considered a severe pectus deformity. My Haller index is a 9.

Surgery will be a life changing experience. I currently have daily pain associated with pectus that occurs with minimal movement or exertion. With correction, compression on my heart and lungs would be removed, allowing my lungs to expand to their full capacity. My surgical date is expected to be early January of 2026. Any donation towards my cause would be greatly appreciated.