Jaimies open heart surgery support

My name is Stephanie, and I am writing on behalf of my lifelong best friend Jaimie.

Many people in Jaimie’s life probably have no idea that she has battled a crippling disease since she was young. After years of painful medical issues and multiple misdiagnoses that lead to delays in proper treatment, doctors diagnosed her with Lupus (SLE) when she was 17 years old. Although she does not wear it on her sleeve, Jaimie deals with the consequences of a chronic disease every day. These symptoms range from arthritis, muscle pain, skin lesions, extreme fatigue, spiked fevers, persistent headaches, hair loss, dental issues, memory loss and more. Not to mention the extensive list of side effects that plague her from the wide range of medications she requires just living day to day.

In the past year, her disease has severely progressed. She has developed a blood clotting disorder that can sometimes accompany Lupus. She has been hospitalized multiple times due to sustaining life-threatening pulmonary embolisms. The last one, just a month ago, caused her to lose consciousness, fall and injure her head. After hospitalization, a change in medication therapy and several tests, doctors have determined that she will need an invasive; last resort open-heart surgery called Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy.

The surgery is a lengthy and risky procedure that involves cutting through her sternum, placing her heart and lungs on a bypass machine, lowering her body temperature to around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, stopping all blood flow and attempting to remove any persistent clots and scar tissue from her arteries. Without this procedure, Jaimie faces heart failure and ultimately an extremely premature death.

As you can imagine, a procedure of this magnitude will most certainly incur incredible medical costs and loss of income as well as put a financial burden on her family as they travel across the country and attempt to secure long term housing to support her and tend to her basic needs as she heals.

Jaimie is never one to ask for help, but these circumstances are beyond the typical scope of her ongoing health issues. We know that not everyone has the means to contribute, and we appreciate any prayers and well wishes you could give. If you are local to San Diego and want to help in other ways like preparing meals for her and her family, groceries , food delivery gift cards, etc I am happy to work with you to arrange that. For those of you who are in a position to assist financially, every dollar makes a difference.

Jaimie is a fierce supporter of those around her and never hesitates to say yes when anyone asks for help. It is our time to do the same for her. If you are able to, and feel so compelled, please donate to her cause. We are all forever grateful for the community that supports Jaimie both in Michigan and in San Diego.

XXOO