Ike’s failed heart painful 1 YR recovery

Hi, my name is Sonie Rockwell. My dear friend Isaac Hardman is in ICU on life support, waiting for a heart transplant. Isaac is only 44 years old, and his heart is no longer functioning by no fault of his own.

The average cost of a heart transplant in 2020 was 1.6M, and the average cost for anti-rejection drugs after surgery is $2,500 to $3,000 a month. To be a recipient, you must show that you can cover the portion of the transplant that insurance will not cover, and you must be able to afford the aftercare costs of the drugs. If you cannot cover the costs, you will be rejected. Yes, that is correct having money makes a difference if you need a heart transplant.

Issac is a father of five children aged 9-18. He has three boys and two girls. Isaac has a loving and devoted wife, Jenny, who has been his rock. About 2-3 years ago, Isaac developed severe back pain and was admitted to the hospital. After many days, nights and tests, it was discovered that he had a severe infection. They treated the disease, but by the time they got it under control in his back to some degree, he had lost about 70% of his spinal bone, destroyed his heart valves, and had to undergo a grueling 15-hour surgery and almost died at that time. Isaac is strong, but infections are tuff to fight. Isaac survived the surgery, but recovery was tough. He was exhausted and couldn't work. He did what contract work from home he could do, but he was constrained with his time due to fatigue.

As the months passed, the family fell further and further behind in their finances. In addition to Isaacs's mounting medical bills, the children needed particular therapy that was not covered by insurance. Of course, the children required treatment as they watched their father go through such a traumatic event. When a person suffers a severe medical crisis, the entire family suffers the crisis.

In April of 2022, Isaac started feeling better. He got a job at a law firm reviewing contracts and teaching artificial intelligence to write contracts. His dream job, and he thought things were turning around; he could get out of debt and start planning his future. After returning to work in June, his landlord informed him the rent was going up $650 per month. Yes, this is a real problem in the Salt Lake Valley, as we have a housing shortage. Isaac and Jenny decided they needed to do whatever they could to get out of this debt, so they moved in with Isaac's parents, for which they are so grateful.

Then in August, Isaac suffered a major heart attack, and his heart was damaged beyond repair. He has been confined to the hospital ever since. Isaac cannot go home until he has a NEW HEART. He is on an ECMO life support device, and they are hoping they can keep him alive until a heart can be found. Jenny did text me this morning (12/13/22) and said his breathing was better, and they were able to wake him up for a bit which is a gift, so he knows he is still here fighting the biggest fight ever.

Isaac has lived an extraordinary life but still has more memorable things to do. He served as an intern in Washington, working on the US Senate Judiciary Committee, assisting with nominations and confirmations of several federal judges and that of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. He served a mission in Switzerland, where he learned how to love good cheese and chocolate and, most of all, enjoyed helping the people he met and worked with there while also mastering the German language. Isaac has so much more to give to this world. It is not his time to go. We need him here to get the accomplishments he can do done. He needs to be here to grow old with Jenny, see his children grow into adults and prosper, and see his future grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

If I can ask one thing, it is for Jenny and this family to only focus on his recovery after a heart is located and not have to worry about finances. If you can help, it would be greatly appreciated, and any dollar amount helps. Nothing is too small for this family. Prayers are welcome from everybody. We need prayers of healing and recovery, and peace. God bless everyone, and thank you for taking the time to read about my dear friend Isaac. Just so everybody knows, Isaac and Jenny are very proud private people who would never ask for help, so I am asking for it on their behalf. All money will go directly into their bank account to help with expenses.