Main fundraiser photo

Help Carrie Rock Her Transplant!

Donation protected
Help me support my dear friend Carrie!  Some of you may already know that Carrie, pictured above with her mom, walking in the Denver Go Red for Women fashion show, was born with congenital heart problems and has braved 3 open heart surgeries along with other procedures too numerous to count in her 38 years.  Her first open heart was at 10 days old -  to save her life.

Now, there are no more surgeries that can fix her heart.  And her liver is suffering too.

Carrie has moved to Philadelphia, a requirement to be close to the transplant center where the University of Pennsylvania Hospital medical team has performed the most dual organ heart-liver transplants for congenital heart patients. Carrie has been on the wait-list for 5 months now, and the surgeons believe that her call will come at any time.

Carrie has rocked every other surgery she's ever had, even leaving the hospital after her 3rd open heart in 5 days, instead of the 10-14 the doctors had told her to expect! She never gives up, and she's continually pushing herself to keep moving, keep working, keep in shape, eat healthy, reduce her stress, and do everything she can to defy expectations.

While she has been waiting, Carrie has a weekly hour-long drive to the hospital for various testing and check-ins. These take all day, with mileage to/from, parking fees in downtown Philadelphia, and meals for Carrie and her caregiver.

Additionally, Carrie has continued doing all that she can to preserve the function that she does have. To do this she routinely sees a massage therapist, a chiropractor, and a naturopath, and uses a variety of vitamins and supplements to give her body a little oopmh, none of which are covered by her insurance.

Meanwhile, Carrie's body continues to decline. On the outside she looks normal, but on the inside her body is struggling. She has consistent swelling in her feet/ankles/legs, which make movement painful, and takes more energy for her body to operate. Since she has been listed her stamina and overall energy levels have gone from being able to do some yard work, to barely being able to keep up with housework. By the end of most days her ability to prepare meals or do basic chores is exhausted. 

Things that would helpful to her right now would be a house cleaning service, prepared meal delivery, extra funds to pay for the costs not covered by insurance (such as the gas, parking, supplements, and massage).

Our goal is to raise $12,000 to provide support for her costs not covered by insurance, to hire in a cleaning service, for a prepared meal service, and more!

We would be very grateful if you could support her by making a donation to her GoFundMe page and then sharing it with your social network.  Please know that even a small amount helps get us closer to our goal, and more able to help Carrie in being the most prepared, and healthiest she can be going into her transplant.

If you'd like to sponsor a specific part of her care here are some suggested amounts:
Weekly massages at $80/session
Bi-weekly chiropractor treatment at $75/visit
Weekly therapy/counseling: $120/session
Monthly supplement costs: $280
Bi-weekly house cleaning: we believe this will be in the range of $125-150 per visit
Weekly meal delivery: we believe this will be $80-100
A recliner for rest periods and post-surgery: $1500
Monthly payment on her articulating base bed (which she uses to get her feet up to reduce swelling, and will use post-surgery to sleep more upright while her chest and abdomen heal): $250




Carrie at 1-1/2 years, in the hospital battling an infection.

Age 4, after open heart surgery #2

Being wheeled back to the OR with mom & dad for open heart surgery #3, Mayo Clinic, August 2001

Heading home from Mayo in 6 days! 12 August 2001


Pre-op to get her pacemaker replaced in 2009 with mom, dad, and "Carrie's" anesthesiologist, Mark

Fulfilling a Bucket List item to see Jimmy Buffett at Red Rocks


Waiting for *another* procedure, November 2017.
Donate

Donations 

  • Julie Schatz
    • $50 
    • 5 yrs
Donate

Fundraising team: Friends of Carrie (3)

Kelly Walsh
Organizer
Kennett Square, PA
Carol Alm
Team member
Kelly Walsh
Team member

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.