Help Jon Get His New Heart!

My best friend, Jon, was born with a heart bound to fail him. Just about 26 years ago, my best friend came into this world with a rare congenital heart disease, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Within his first year life, he experienced two major open-heart surgeries, and another one by the time he was three years old.

Jon has diligently gone to doctors appointments at least twice a year since he was a baby to see his Cardiologist at Duke University Hospital, even considering the three hour drive there and back. More recently he has also begun seeing a Liver specialist at Duke, since his heart condition has started to affect his liver as well.

On December 1st, 2023, Jon arrived at the Duke University Emergency Department, complaining of shortness of breath and abdominal bloating, as well as a few other gastrointestinal symptoms. He had already been seen several times by his primary care doctor and was still not sure what was going on. An echocardiogram confirmed Jon’s heart was leaking fluid into his abdomen, causing most of his symptoms.

About a week later, Jon was given the news that he would need a heart transplant, and possibly a liver transplant. Although he had consistently done what was right for his health and heart, the natural progression of his disease had advanced quicker than his cardiologist and other health professionals had expected.

Now Jon is waiting in the hospital for his new heart, and will be staying there inpatient until he is able to receive it. Jon’s wife and parents live in Roanoke, VA, a three hour drive to the hospital he is currently staying in. If you choose to donate, all proceeds will go first toward Jon’s medical bills. Anything over his patient liability will go toward helping his family pay for travel and lodging.

On a more personal note, I wanted to write a bit about Jon and who he is as a person. I met Jon in 2016 working together at Outback Steakhouse. He and I have always gotten along and love to hang out. I consider him not only my best friend but a brother. When I was going through my divorce he opened his home to me while I got back on my feet. Jon has a great sense of humor and loves to play video games and board games with his friends and family. He and his wife have been married 3 years now which I was given the privilege of being their best man. They have two dogs Winnie and Zelda whom they love immensely.

Jon’s true love, however, is the kitchen. In a sense, he feels he has always had the world working against him. No matter how much he loves to cook, he has consistently had others tell him about all the reasons he won’t ever be able to succeed in the culinary field due to his health problems. He’s been given many excuses — the kitchen is too hot, there’s too much standing, it’s too stressful, etc. Despite these pessimists, Jon has proven them wrong time and time again. He attended culinary school and worked several years in a high end steak house, perfecting his art. He even started a YouTube channel about a year ago, his purpose to bring cooking back into the home and to bring families together through cooking.

Unfortunately, not too far into starting this platform is when he began to feel ill more and more frequently. He hasn’t been able to post nearly as many videos as he wants. He hopes that receiving this gift of a new heart will eventually give him the quality of life and energy he dreams of to allow him to pursue his dream of teaching others how to cook.

Thank you so much for reading through this. I know Jon and his family appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers, and good vibes. I encourage you to share this with anyone who may want to read about Jon’s situation, provide help, donate, share this with others, offer prayers, etc.

I’d also love to hear from anyone who knows Jon, what is something you love or admire about him? Do you have a favorite memory with him? Do you have any words of encouragement for him?