From my brother Henry's wife, Cyprina

As a veteran, I have always believed in being strong and independent. However, I now find myself in a hard situation that requires me to reach out for help knowing I will not be able to endure alone. Since April 1998, I have been battling heart disease, and my condition has now progressed to the point where my VA Cardiologist has recommended that I consider a heart transplant. However, due to the limited availability of donor hearts, I first need to have an LVAD (Heart pump) installed before being placed on the transplant list. On April 26, I am scheduled to meet with the Heart Hospital of NM at Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque to begin this process that will take up to six months and will require a loved one to be with me at all times.

My husband, who is also a veteran, will need to commute six hours weekly to be with me on his days off, find lodging and meals, and learn how to care for me after I am released from the hospital. This will be a challenging and expensive process for the duration of the treatment. As people who have always been self-sufficient, we find it difficult to ask for help, but any support you can offer would be immensely appreciated as we embark on this new phase of our lives.