https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKs1mMqlg8A
My name is Emma Fitzgerald and I am 32 years old. I am the FIRST child in the world to survive birth with a Congenital Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

I survived my 1st Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Bypass (AAA) Surgery at the age of 19 DAYS old, at Sick Kids Hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, for what medical professionals call “a medical miracle mystery”. Upon discovery of the aneurysm, my mother, father and sister were told to take me home, advising that I would pass away within 2 weeks due to rupture of the aneurysm. My mother who was nursing at the time and was connected in the nursing field, was not in favour of that advice. She navigated through her network and discovered Dr. Dobell and Dr. David Latter who agreed to do the surgery. Thereafter, I was transferred to Sick Kids where this experimental life-threatening Open AAA Bypass procedure was performed. In this surgery, an 8mm PTFE graft was used to attach my aorta back together when the aneurysm was removed. I am an anomaly for setting precedent in the International Public Medical database for surviving this rare condition discovered at birth, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=2645984%5Buid%5D  . 

My survival is considered “miraculous” because Congenital Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm survival in infants is highly UNcommon. What IS common however, are Aortic Aneurysms in Adults, aged 50+, making it extremely abnormal for me to have been born with an aneurysm, “the size of a Grapefruit” (6CM in diameter.)

I have managed a Cardiovascular condition that doesn't have a diagnosed cause, nor a sustainable treatment plan. I have done this through conventional surgery, pharmaceuticals, and navigating through a self-created course of holistic rehabilitation. As far as dated literature goes back, I am the eldest of approximately 11 survivors, out of 26 reported cases to-date, in the entire world.

I had complications going into my adulthood, enduring my 2nd Abdominal Iliac Aortic Bypass surgery in 2009 at St. Michael's hospital in Toronto , at the age of 21. Miraculously, the operation was performed by primary Cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Vern Campbell and assisted by Cardiac Surgeon Dr. David Latter, who was part of the “Guinea Pig” operation on me when I was born in Montreal. Thanks to my mother, for stumbling upon his name on a wall plaque recognizing him as the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, while she was nursing there during that time.

My graft lasted until July 2017, almost 9 years later, completely blocking leaving me with 40% blood flow to my legs. In order to avoid the risks associated with another Open Abdominal Bypass procedure, I opted to preserve my graft through Endovascular surgery with incisions through my right AND left groin, in attempt to unblock the graft. Although this procedure carries high risks, it is less invasive than Open Abdomen surgery. In fact, I lost half of my blood count out of the incisions in my groin while in ICU Recovery Unit, I was in borderline need for blood transfusion, however due to risks of that itself, I had to build the blood cells back up with large doses of iron supplements and special diet foods.  

About 3 months later, in September 2017, my graft half-blocked on the left side from a “kink” in the graft, resulting again, in the use of my “survival veins” to pass blood at a rate of 50%. With fear of complications from the last procedure and the feeling of my back against the wall, I decided to proceed with another Endovascular surgery through my left groin, where a stent was placed into the kink, with a balloon-like inflation to “stretch the graft” from the inside. To me, this was a way to buy more time before another inevitable Open Abdominal Bypass. This “bandaid graft” slowly narrowed and deteriorated through the year of 2018 midway into 2019, again reducing blood flow slowly to my legs at 50%.

In July 2019 I had to withstand my 3rd Open Abdominal Iliac Aortic Bypass surgery at the age of 31, to entirely replace the damaged graft. This surgery was performed by senior Cardiovascular surgeon Dr. M. Pope at Trillium Hospital in Mississauga. Surviving this surgery for a 3rd time has made me an ongoing “AAA Bypass Survivor” because every Bypass procedure is a severe risk to life, increasing with every additional operation that is crucially required to preserve my life.

In September of 2019, three months after the last Bypass, my body rejected the graft and blocked the left side of the graft restricting blood flow to my left leg. Here I am now, 10 months later, operating at 65% blood circulation, through the survival instinct collateral veins my legs created as an infant.

I have been genetically tested for all underlying conditions that are from “known” mutated gene panels associated with aneurysms, specifically Connective Tissue Diseases and Blood Clotting Conditions, which have all tested negative. I have been classified by the Genetics team as a potential for being “my own kind of mutated gene” (in non-scientific terms, “a Marvel or D.C Comic Character” type of girl).

I have resorted to every avenue of healing from receiving local treatment to    traveling globally for healing but I have reached what seems like the “last leg”,  literally, of my journey because I am not a candidate for another “safe” 4th, AAA Bypass Surgery. The risks of complications are indisputably deathly high.

I am in limbo between again, waiting for a solution to present itself and in pushing myself beyond physical exhaustion daily, just to force the “Survival instincts in my body” to respond with more collateral veins needed to pass enough blood flow to my legs, and back up to my heart.
This level of blood flow will ONLY be sufficient for a LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME.

If I leave my condition the way it is, I will slowly decline and be at high risk of Heart Failure, Losing my legs, an Internal Bleed and/or Blood Clot related Stroke/Attacks.

My grafts have failed 4 times already, and with each surgery the recovery challenges and complications increase every time.

The first graft invented and used for clinical trial was roughly in the year 1969, made of Goretex Dacron material, similar to a durable polyester blend. Graft technology has a life span ranging from 5-9 years and carries multiple risks like infection, internal bleeding, blockage, scar tissue narrowing of graft, etc..
I fit the statistics given my second graft lasted for 8 years and has now freshly re-blocked months after the 3rd replacement Graft Bypass surgery.

The Health Care System is designed in a way where funding is directed to areas where medical breakthroughs are required for more common conditions, leaving a rare condition like mine without innovative technological attention. Through the course of being a “Guinea Pig Experiment”  for many surgeries, from the time I was born until this present day, I realize that I need to have a “Guinea Pig Mindset and Attitude” and think outside of the box, if I stand a chance at Staying Alive !!

I had heard of Stem Cell research along my journey but I was always told that there wasn't enough research or clinical trials already done to guarantee that it would be a suitable option for me. As I researched more about Stem Cell advancements,
I came across credited articles that indicate Cardiovascular as a new area of research for Stem Cell Treatment. I have also consulted with doctors in the field at length, that have told me that these clinical trials are actually being done and that funding is an essential requirement, especially for a rare condition like mine.

Breakthroughs have occurred since Embryonic discovery in 1981, starting with the first success of the “Mouse Trial” conducted in 1998, where a method was derived to acquire stem cells from human embryos and grow the cells in the laboratory, infusing the cell with a “specialized function”.
Stem Cell treatment offers the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases. The damaged cells are isolated, cultured, and essentially “copied into themselves” into large numbers and infused with specialized cells, and ultimately injected back into the body through intravenous or injection in the brain or Nervous System, triggering a response to create a healthy copy of the cell.
To-date, Stem Cell Clinical Trials have been used for Macular degeneration, Spinal cord injury, Stroke, Heart disease, Diabetes and some Connective tissue diseases. Stem Cell (HSCT) has been used for over 30 years to treat people with Leukaemia and Lymphoma, and is actually the only form of Stem Cell Therapy that is widely practiced.
There are trials currently being done in the United States at the John Hopkins and Mayo Clinic.
Stem Cell Treatment IS legal in Canada, although it is neither approved or disapproved but is however, regulated by Health Canada legislation, limiting it’s usage and funding for research.

Scientifically there is a possibility for Aortic Stem Cell treatment to be fruitful because science shows cardiac tissue to be robust in its ability to generate stem cells, typically yielding several million transplantable cells within 2 months.

While graft technology does support a wide range of conditions, it’s current life span of 5-9 years is not nearly sufficient enough for a rare condition like mine, or any other people who cannot undergo surgery due to their pre-existing underlying conditions.

What happens when a situation occurs where Grafts or any kind of invasive/noninvasive Surgery is NOT an option for our parents, uncles/aunts, siblings, relatives, friends or loved ones, who are experiencing Cardiovascular diseases like Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), that can cause Heart Attacks, Strokes and/or loss of limbs????

Although history has shown the capability of advanced medical technological improvement over the years, graft technology has not made many significant advancements in terms of it's functioning ability, or lifespan duration. Just because Graft and Endovascular repair have become more common, it doesn't make them any less life threatening!

I was born in 1987, and it is now 2020 and I have already been faced with 4 encounters where I was in the ER racking my brain trying to make a treatment decision that could instantly end my life. I need other options that don't require life threatening surgeries. I need a Stem Cell Clinical Trial with enough research and resources to design a treatment program specifically for my condition. This level of treatment all requires funding.

This project would not only help me, but it will help the other 11 reported cases like mine, in which these individuals may be half my age and haven't even experienced their 2nd Bypass surgery yet. It will also help, future babies born with my rare condition, AND existing Adults/Elderly from undergoing major life-threatening surgeries where complications are
high-risk. In fact, statistics show that Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms are the 13th leading cause of death in Adults in the United States.

Clinical trials can take 1-2 years at minimum. My current state of health IS TIME SENSITIVE and URGENTLY requires Research and Clinical Testing.

The cost for Stem Cell Treatment ranges anywhere between $8000- $50,000 USD, PER treatment.

Stem cell trials have shown conflicting results and risks to life should the adverse effect occur, which is why funding is necessary to advance research in specialized clinical trials relevant to my case.

I am determined and dedicated to my recovery every single day, but it does get exhausting pushing through physical pain and swelling in my limbs to force my body to it’s maximum capacity, trying to create pathways for blood flow. Seeing doctors all over Ontario, paying out of pocket for non-covered costly medications, therapy, consultations and having a lack of the Government’s medical and financial support due to my condition falling in the “grey area”, makes it extremely difficult to get the awareness and supports for the solutions I need to persevere through this.

Although I get discouraged, I can’t sit back and deteriorate without trying to find a “new age” solution.

WITH THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF EVERYONE, I MAY HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE TO INCREASE MY ODDS OF SURVIVAL EACH DAY, AND ENHANCE MY QUALITY OF LIFE. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP, TO HELP ME FIND A WAY THROUGH THIS CONDITION THAT HAS NO DOCUMENTED WAY THROUGH IT. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERYDAY, OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.

ALL I'M ASKING FOR, IS INSTEAD OF GIVING ME ROSES WHEN I'M GONE, PLEASE HELP ME FIGHT THIS BATTLE WHILE I AM STILL HERE. 

ANY DONATIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AND WILL BE REMARKABLY HELPFUL!

EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR ADDS UP, AND SERVES A GREATER PURPOSE TO THIS CAUSE!!
PLEASE SHARE MY STORY AS ANOTHER WAY TO HELP OUT.

THANK YOU, FROM THE DEPTH OF MY HEART AND SOUL !! 

HUGE LOVE AND HUGS 
<3

GOAL OF THIS GFM:

1. To raise money and awareness for Stem Cell Research & a Treatment plan geared toward my Rare Cardiovascular condition of Congenital AAA.

2. To give the other 11 survivors, and all others who could be born with this same defect, and all adults and elderly who have Peripheral Arterial Disease who cannot physically undergo any Surgery, another option, that I didn't have. One that doesn't require having to undergo the physical pain and suffering of multiple Bypass surgeries and the tumultuous recovery challenges.