Help My Son TJ Clark Heart Transplant Recipient

Suzy Gauldin Spencer is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hello, my name is Suzy Spencer.

I'm a devoted wife, mother of 4 children, a bonus son, 13 grandchildren plus 4 (adopted) cats.

I've spent my life caring for my family, and once they left the nest, I began to volunteer and became Chairwoman at a Children's Specialty Center for children with critical needs. You could say that family and children are my passion.

And so here I sit typing out my worst nightmare. Heavy heart, deep breath.

In 2017 my son TJ had heart failure. He, at the time, was outwardly healthy. A hardworking father to 3 kids, one on the way, a wife, and many animals. Life was good. He was only 34 years old when the worst day of our lives happened. While TJ was being admitted to the hospital, I was frantically trying to get to Ohio as I live in Southern Texas. Being as TJ was healthy before this all happened, it took some time for my mind to catch up to the reality that I was facing.

My child is dying, I may never speak to him again.

TJ's heart was severely damaged from the failure, and he now has a pacemaker and heart defibrillator implanted to keep him alive. Life as he knew it would never be the same. He would be deemed to fragile to work. His marriage fell apart as he needed more care than could be provided and his wife left him. He would spend the next 4.5 years in and out of the hospital for tests and surgeries while attending court for divorce and custody. To say he had a "broken heart" was an understatement. We would later learn that TJ has a rare genetic mutation that caused his heart failure and would need a new heart to live a full life.

And so here we are...2022. I am commuting between Texas and Ohio to care for my son. I feel blessed to be able to be with him and to know he is not alone. In October we received the long awaited news that TJ has been accepted to the list of heart transplant recipients. The date of surgery is unknown and is up in the air until a heart becomes available. TJ is limited to activities he can perform and work is out of the question until he has the heart transplant and recovery. As we optimistically wait, the financial burdens from the last 4.5 years loom ahead. Disability pays for some of the day to day bills but there is little left over to make a dent in hospital bills and necessary care he will need after his surgery. We as a family have spent hours searching for charities and programs to help my son. He would have qualified for many but most require you to be a full time father.

I am at my most desperate hour. I want my son to live and be with his children and us.

My mission is big and with a great cause!

The outline of my goal for this fundraiser is to help pay for TJ's:

*Medical & Hospital Expenses

*Mortgage & Utilities

*Transportation to Doctor Visits & Rehab

*Credit Card Debt

*Attorney Fees

*Lost Income

TJ is a loving son, a devoted brother to so many.

A fantastic, fun-loving dad to Jessica, Ethan, Elanna & Jack.

It's his will and the future he wants desperately with his children.