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Stay Right By My Side
Holly J. Ward
4/26/2015 7:31 PM
This is my second update for my fundraiser "Holly's Heart Hope Fund" which was created to help me survive the financial strain of my fourth open heart surgery. My condition was recognized by my parents when I was two weeks old, so I've always had more doctor appointments than anyone I knew.
I have been a survivor of pulmonary stenosis and multiple congenital heart diseases for 44 years. That t's is the important part of my story right now.
If I was still a journalist my headline for the story would 'Increase in Cases of Transplants for Survivors of Congenital Valvular Heart Disease ' and the rest of the story would let the public know that diagnosed and undiagnosed valve disease patients are increasing.
Why?
For most it is because they had their condition recognized as a child and they responded well to the treatment available due to technological developments resulting from research of doctors working out of Houston Texas. Their research pays off and in the late 60s the mortality rate of infants with valve failure went from 80 percent to 7 percent. For others they have been fortunate to have had healthy enough valves that the problem never surfaced until they were well into adulthood.
For me?
I was very fortunate that my parents realized I was very sick at about two weeks old when they adopted me and they had me under the care of the very team of doctors that had been researching and perfecting heart valve disease found in infants; my forever hero from that team is Dr. Denton Cooley. He was expensive. And he was the best. My parents are the best for doing this for me.
I told my mother that I was the proud owner of a million dollar heart one day, and she laughed saying that it was worth well over a million already. I don't have the exact figures, but my parents spent thousands over the years getting my treatment and keeping me healthy.
My last two pulmonary valve replacements were in 2002. I am so glad I had insurance that paid 80 percent of the medical bills, but when you have two heart surgeries right in a row I found out how quickly you can be in over your head when your 20 percent leaves you with bills in excess of $150,000.
I made it somehow; by the help of my family, friends, and due to the grace of God I recovered 100 percent physiologically, emotionally, spiritually, personally and financially. It was also thanks to my wonderful family and friends, who I find right by my side as usual.
Everyone has been so wonderful. Thank you for being here with me.
Love and Thanks.
h.j.
Holly J. Ward
4/26/2015 7:31 PM
This is my second update for my fundraiser "Holly's Heart Hope Fund" which was created to help me survive the financial strain of my fourth open heart surgery. My condition was recognized by my parents when I was two weeks old, so I've always had more doctor appointments than anyone I knew.
I have been a survivor of pulmonary stenosis and multiple congenital heart diseases for 44 years. That t's is the important part of my story right now.
If I was still a journalist my headline for the story would 'Increase in Cases of Transplants for Survivors of Congenital Valvular Heart Disease ' and the rest of the story would let the public know that diagnosed and undiagnosed valve disease patients are increasing.
Why?
For most it is because they had their condition recognized as a child and they responded well to the treatment available due to technological developments resulting from research of doctors working out of Houston Texas. Their research pays off and in the late 60s the mortality rate of infants with valve failure went from 80 percent to 7 percent. For others they have been fortunate to have had healthy enough valves that the problem never surfaced until they were well into adulthood.
For me?
I was very fortunate that my parents realized I was very sick at about two weeks old when they adopted me and they had me under the care of the very team of doctors that had been researching and perfecting heart valve disease found in infants; my forever hero from that team is Dr. Denton Cooley. He was expensive. And he was the best. My parents are the best for doing this for me.
I told my mother that I was the proud owner of a million dollar heart one day, and she laughed saying that it was worth well over a million already. I don't have the exact figures, but my parents spent thousands over the years getting my treatment and keeping me healthy.
My last two pulmonary valve replacements were in 2002. I am so glad I had insurance that paid 80 percent of the medical bills, but when you have two heart surgeries right in a row I found out how quickly you can be in over your head when your 20 percent leaves you with bills in excess of $150,000.
I made it somehow; by the help of my family, friends, and due to the grace of God I recovered 100 percent physiologically, emotionally, spiritually, personally and financially. It was also thanks to my wonderful family and friends, who I find right by my side as usual.
Everyone has been so wonderful. Thank you for being here with me.
Love and Thanks.
h.j.
Organizer
Holly Ward
Organizer
Arlington, TX