My name is Luz, and I’m writing for my aunt, Sadie Lopez, a 55-year-old woman who is legally blind, disabled, and now in urgent need of life-saving open-heart surgery. Without it, she will not survive. Sadie has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a rare connective-tissue disorder that makes her skin and blood vessels extremely fragile. Even simple procedures can cause severe injury. Because of this, her upcoming surgery must be performed at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, one of the few centers equipped to handle high-risk EDS patients.

Sadie is in acute heart failure from severe mitral valve stenosis and regurgitation caused by rheumatic fever she suffered as a baby. Two of her heart valves are now deformed and leaking, forcing her heart and lungs to work beyond their limits. Her doctors warned that she could go into total heart failure at any time. Before she can even undergo the operation, she must also complete specialized oral surgery to remove infections that could spread to her heart during the procedure. Both surgeries are complex and can only be safely done at Anschutz, where her care team understands how to operate on fragile connective tissue.

Sadie lives in rural New Mexico with her husband, Carlos, who is her full-time caregiver. They have no vehicle and survive solely on disability income. To receive this care, they must travel out of state and remain near the hospital for twelve weeks of recovery and cardiac rehabilitation.

This fundraiser will help cover the costs for:

• Copayments and deductibles for both the oral and open heart surgeries
• Travel to and from UC
• Lodging and food during the cardiac rehabilitation period
• Medical supplies

We are asking for $10,000 to cover these basic, life-sustaining expenses so Sadie can safely undergo her surgeries and recovery.

Sadie has endured more than most. She has survived two cancers and two brain surgeries, yet she continues to face life with patience, kindness, and hope. She loves singing, playing her guitar, gardening, and caring for animals. Her greatest wish is to keep living a meaningful, vibrant life filled with music, color, and love. Your support can give her that chance: to breathe without pain and to finally rest without fear. Every donation and share helps bring her closer to the surgery that will save her life.