I met Charise McGee a little over 5 years ago when she was admitted to the hospital with end stage heart failure prior. She became a patient of mine while I was working as the LVAD Coordinator at UTMC. She had an LVAD placed and has done very well from that perspective. Since that first meeting she has gone through a great deal of hardship, the most devastating was UTMC’s decision to no longer function as an accredited LVAD Center. The multidisciplinary team she trusted and loved was no longer available to be a local resource for the many medical, equipment and psychosocial needs LVAD patients have. This meant any medical care or equipment issues she needed help with, she had to be transferred to Cleveland as they are the closest LVAD Center in Ohio. For someone to have to go to Cleveland a few times a year is doable, however as she mentions in her story her kidneys have now failed and she will soon need dialysis 3 times a week, and there are no dialysis centers in Toledo able to care for patients with LVADs. Recommendations for her were to go to Cleveland 3 times a week for dialysis, move to Cleveland – where she has no family or support system, or again go into Hospice. Cleveland also will not list her for transplant if she is living in Toledo. She is only 44 years old – Hospice is not how her story is going to end. Desperate to get the care she needs while having some type of support system near her – she has reached out to General Hospital in Tampa – she has some family in that area. After learning about her they have agreed to take her on as a patient and are already talking about getting her listed for heart and kidney transplant asap. They also will be able to accommodate her if she needs dialysis without having to travel 2 hours to and from the center 3 times a week. We just need to get her to Tampa. Charise has a beautiful soul, she is the mother of a daughter and son and has 2 grandbabies she needs to get back to enjoying. She has been sick for a long time and unfortunately is running out of time. While she is no longer my patient, she has become a dear friend, she is family to me. Please consider even a small donation to help continue her journey to Tampa. Her story in her words below, this was just my two cents.

 

Charise’s story:

Eleven years ago I literally woke up so sick and could hardly breathe and I knew I needed medical help fast. I went to the ER and after a lot of testing was diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF). I was told that my condition was critical and I was implanted with a defibrillator in my chest to prevent sudden cardiac death. Five years ago I became very ill again and learned that the left side of my heart was failing. I was told at that point my options were heart transplant which I did not qualify for, a major open heart operation for implant of a left ventricular assist device implant/heart pump (LVAD) or go into Hospice and I would only have approximately three months left to live. Needless to say the decision was very easy being that my first grand child was on the way and I needed to be here to meet her. Thanks to my LVAD team that was possible. I am at the point now that I need a dual transplant heart and kidney. I found out I am now in stage 5 kidney failure on top of needing a heart transplant. I never ask for anything I’m a very humble person but family and friends I really need your help now. The money raised will be used for travel expenses and other medical necessities. Thank U all for reading my story. No amount is too small All donations will be greatly appreciated. God bless! ❤️