Hi! My name is Alexa-Jane, but most of you likely know me as AJ or Alexa. I am 20 years old, but I've been struggling with cardiac-related issues for a very long time. I was born with a PFO and PDA and developed more concerning symptoms around 10 years old.

I am making this GoFundMe to be able to afford medical equipment that my family and I cannot afford, all of which monitors and helps my cardiovascular health. My goal is $2,000, and I will forever be grateful to anyone who donates.

I used to be an active little girl. I liked riding my bike, playing every sport possible, running around with friends during recess, and going outside to the park to play soccer or grounders. One day, around a decade ago now, my whole world changed.

I was having difficulty breathing, had chest pains, heart rhythm abnormalities, and sometimes my lips, fingers, and toes would turn blue. I was in and out of hospitals, talking to different specialists, trying to figure out why my life turned upside down. I would faint during gym class, yet nobody had answers.

It's only recently, within the past few years, that I have begun to get answers, in which I was diagnosed with a slew of conditions after my health started to deteriorate in many other ways I never expected. I was fainting multiple times every day, sometimes hitting my head, causing it to bleed. My heart would throb in my neck to the point I felt like I was suffocating. I barely have energy to do anything anymore. That's just some of the many symptoms I suffer from daily. I am so exhausted.

My chronic illnesses have taken a lot away from me. I didn't get to experience a normal childhood. I always felt unwell. I can't even stand without feeling my heartbeat pulse in my eyes and head. The medical equipment I hope to get would benefit me in so many ways, opening the door to a life with better-managed symptoms and proper monitoring.

The medical equipment includes devices which will help me track my blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, sleep, brain blood flow, heart electrical activity, and detect arrhythmias when they arise, as I get them daily and even in my sleep, some of which can be life-threatening.

Thank you so much for reading. I appreciate everything, truthfully. ☺️ I've never had a GoFundMe before, so I'm hoping I set this up properly. I didn't want to go into too much detail for privacy's sake, but if you have further questions, please let me know.