Hi friends, this is Gene.

It breaks my heart to share that Sherry recently underwent a third major open-heart surgery—and unfortunately, things did not go well.

On May 13, 2025, Sherry had to have surgery to replace three heart valves—the aortic, mitral, and tricuspid—due to severe complications. This was her third open-heart surgery.

Her journey started at just 6 years old, when she had her first operation to open her aortic valve.

At 30, she had a second open-heart surgery to replace the valve with a mechanical one. During that procedure, they discovered a deformity in her heart and had to do reconstructive surgery. It took 20 hours, plus another 6 hours just to stop the bleeding. She spent 27 days in ICU and 46 more in the hospital.

Now, at 56, her mechanical valve started failing—damaging the surrounding valves. This led to her most recent surgery.

Complications reared their ugly head again:

• The right side of her heart stopped functioning properly and had to be supported by a heart bypass machine

• Uncontrollable bleeding took three days to manage

• Her body began retaining dangerously high levels of fluid

• Once bleeding was finally under control, they were able to close her chest

• Due to the bleeding, they couldn’t give her blood thinners, and the blood pressure medicine they had to have her on caused the blood vessels in her left leg to constrict, cutting off circulation to her foot. Tragically, leaving her with a high likelihood of having her foot amputated.

This has been emotionally devastating and, to be honest, financially overwhelming. We currently live in an upstairs apartment, and Sherry will no longer be able to navigate stairs. We’re going to have to move—and the medical journey is far from over.

I’m on Social Security and unable to work, and I know many of you understand what that means.

Several people have asked how they can help this is where you can. If you're able to contribute, anything at all would make a difference. Even a prayer, a kind word, or a share means the world to us.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued love and support.

With gratitude,

Gene Jessamine