I first met Lynn when I moved to Fluvanna County in Virginia from New York. When my Husband and I wanted to get married, after gay marriage became legalized, she was excited for us and I was able to get to know her and hear her story. She was so excited to officiate our marriage and it was a beautiful ceremony. Getting to know her was a blessing. She is a force of nature and the most kind, loving person I have ever met. She is so disarming and so easy to open up to. She is the kind of person who truly deserves this help. I know a lot of people will see this, hopefully that know her, and I am sure would all agree that she is a blessing to this world we live in today.

On August 22nd, Lynn was cleaning her house and felt a severe burning that she thought was due to dust and cleaning products resulting in an asthma attack. After using her inhaler, it eventually subsided. She called her doctor the next morning as mild chest pain persisted. On Wednesday, the 25th, she went for a walk around the block when the pain returned, again sudden onset and again severe burning. She hurried home to try her inhaler but it didn’t help. When the chest pain worsened and shot down both arms, Lynn became concerned enough and asked her 16 year old daughter to drive her to the rescue station. With everyone out on other calls, no one was there! She called 911 from the parking lot and Louisa County came to Fluvanna to pick her up.

At the ER, they took her blood sample and sent her to wait along with 95 other potential patients reporting a 4-5 hour wait. But, once Lynn’s troponin level came back (the cardiac enzyme showing stress to the heart), it was clear this was a cardiac event.

Lynn was admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit that night where she was desensitized to aspirin (she had a life threatening allergy). The next morning, Lynn suffered additional heart attacks and they rushed her to the cath lab where they confirmed a diagnosis of SCAD – Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection. SCAD is a rare but life threatening condition which tends to happen in an otherwise healthy adult with no known heart risk factors. They told Lynn, “this is a poorly understood diagnosis with an uncertain outcome.” Happily, Lynn’s on the road to recovery and UVA has one of just 17 SCAD centers in the USA. She saw her specialist on October 12 for the first time and is gaining an understanding that this recovery will challenge Lynn’s ability to be patient with herself.

Lynn had two places that had torn in her coronary arteries causing blood clotting and the heart damage. She spent 3 nights in CICU and two nights in acute care before coming home.

At the time, people offered to help Lynn, but she refused… thinking she’d be back on her feet in no time. She came home on the 30th of September thinking she’d go to work the next day because, having started a new job June 1, Lynn had no sick leave or vacation time built up. Her work has been very kind and tried to apply for short term disability for Lynn. However, you have to work there 90 days to be eligible and she had her heart issue on day 86. Come to find out, Lynn was not allowed to return to work, per the doctor’s orders.

Lynn had just changed jobs, she became eligible for their health insurance August 1 which has a maximum out of pocket of $7350. She hadn’t paid into any of that because she’d been healthy. Lynn ordinarily teaches dancing classes (7 each week) as supplemental income and for the physical and mental health benefits. She also jogs.

When Lynn’s short term disability was denied, it coincided with her return to work and the realization that she is not up to full-time employment. Her energy and her heart have not yet recovered… and the medication she now must take for her heart causes fatigue. Her job, again, working with her, has allowed her to drop to 30 hours/week to keep her health insurance. With out dance and without her regular income, those medical bills are building up… as are the usual expenses of daily living.

On top of the $7,350 medical out of pocket, Lynn lost a full two weeks of pay in September and 25% of her income for Oct – December. She also is not earning her dance income which would be 500/month – from August 31 – December. Her max out of pocket resets January 1st with a 4000 deductible before insurance covers anything.

Lynn declined help when initially offered because she really thought she could put the medical bills on a payment plan and that she’d be back to work in no time. It would be a hit that hurt – but bearable. As the reality of her health situation unfolds, she has had to admit to having limits (physical and financial) and is open and grateful for support in any form. Lynn will be going to cardiac rehab three times a week through

the remainder of the year – and is on 30 hours at work through the remainder of the year.

Lynn’s heart has been so giving to the world around her. She works in the non-profit world seeking resources for the good causes that make a difference. When her ten year old daughter died of osteosarcoma, she took her grief and channeled it into creating The Alyssa House (thealyssahouse.org) a free hospitality house for immunocompromised children and their families during treatment at UVA Children’s Hospital. She served her community as clergy before Alyssa’s diagnosis, working as the chaplain to Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women (for more than a decade) and has actively advocated for those who are changing their lives for the better. She has volunteered for CureSearch, CureFest and MIB Agents (all childhood cancer nonprofits). She raised over 1000 dollars for MIB Agents on a virtual run just this summer.