Eight years ago, my life changed forever.

At 43 years old, I suffered sudden cardiac arrest while I was driving on the highway with 2 of my kids and our 2 dogs caused by untreated high blood pressure, a heart murmur, and a congenital condition called VSD — a hole in my heart that I was born with. Initially my kids thought I passed out. I had a seizure at the same time that caused me to press on the gas petal. We were going over 100 miles an hour. They scrambled to get control of the car to stop it. They pulled me out and that's when they realized I was turning blue and not breathing. Without being trained in CPR, they kept enough air in me until the ambulance got to our location 17 minutes later.

I was placed in a medically induced coma for nearly two weeks. Doctors told my children that if I woke up, I would most likely have severe brain damage and live in a vegetative state. Three separate times during that first week, they were asked to consider turning off my breathing machine.

My children refused. I still had brain activity, and they held on to hope as I was in and out of 2 hospitals, with a severe staph infection with the first implant. It took 2 rounds of antibiotics through a port 3 times a day for 6 weeks each round. Against the odds, I survived. I spent about 2 and a half months in the hospital all together.

As part of saving my life, doctors implanted a defibrillator. That device has protected me for the past eight years — but now the battery is failing. It has begun beeping, warning me that it needs to be replaced. This is not optional or cosmetic; it is a necessary surgery to keep me alive.

Unfortunately, I do not have health insurance. Before I can even schedule surgery, I must first see a cardiologist to determine the full cost — a "battery replacement" actually means replacing the entire pulse generator unit, which is why it costs so much. something I simply cannot afford on my own.

Today I was talking with a neighbor about our health issues. When I shared my situation, he asked if I had ever considered starting a GoFundMe. I told him no. I explained all the reasons why I didn’t want to ask for help. He then asked if I even knew how much the surgery would cost. I admitted that I didn’t — because I can’t afford the cardiology appointment needed to find out.

This man, who is nearly 70 years old, told me he wanted to pay for my cardiologist visit so I could get answers. He lives modestly, has his own pets to care for, and every night still makes time to feed a colony of stray cats. He is one of the most generous people I have ever met, and I could not bring myself to accept his money. I told him I couldn’t take help from someone who already gives so much to others without having much himself.

He gently told me that sometimes it isn’t right to refuse help — that allowing others to help can be a gift, too.

Later, while watching TV, a line in the show stopped me in my tracks: “Sometimes the greatest gift you can give is allowing others to help you in your time of need.” Call it coincidence, or call it a sign — but it made me realize something.

There are still good people in this world.

So, with humility and hope, I am asking for help.

Funds raised will go toward:

A cardiologist appointment

Diagnostic testing

Replacement surgery for my defibrillator battery

Related medical expenses

Every donation, share, and kind word means more than I can express. My children were once told to prepare to lose me — and because of hope, love, and medical intervention, I’m still here. I want to stay here with my 2 dogs that are my best friends. Even though my kids are all grown, and have there own lives and families, I would still like to be here for them for as long as I can. They saved my life once. Unfortunately, 8 years later, I need more help.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and thank you for any support you are able to give.