My journey to a Heart Transplant
My name Is Jim Brunker my story begins in 1997. I began noticing I was tired all the time, had no energy and was falling asleep in mid conversations or while holding my new born son. By Christmas I just couldn't breath eat or move. The day after Christmas I went to the ER they admitted me I was diagnosed with an Enlarged Heart and CHF caused by Sleep Apnea.
3 weeks later I returned home now on a CPAP machine feeling better ready to live again untill 2012. I became ill again my heart had gotten worse I had blood clots in my legs the doctors decided to implant a defibrillator in my chest.
At this point I could no longer work I received SSDI. In 2020 I became very ill again they determined my thyroid was not working, another surgery this time it went bad I died on operating table after life saving measures were performed my thyroid was removed I was left on a ventilator for several days. Once again I was feeling better but not for long in 2022 I had what they called an ablation they went in and removed dead tissue from around my heart, they said it helped but I felt horrible. Every day was a struggle I became homeless staying with my daughter.
June 2025 I'm back in hospital this time there was talk of putting me on a LVAD pump. But things can change fast, June 21st 2025 i finally received a heart transplant. 28 years I have lived sick unable to care for myself which is why I've started this go fund me I need help now to help with my recovery.