Jason Linde Aortic Aneurysm Surgery

When Jason was 12, was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (thickening of the muscular walls of the heart) (Same disease Hank Gathers died on the court from). At the time there was little known about the disorder, and he was rushed into open heart surgery. He was told he would be lucky to get to his 20’s and he could never play sport again. However, with the advanced in medicine his life has been extended until this point. Unfortunately, the path has been a long and arduous one. He has also been diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis. This disease is crippling because it  causes his Vertebrae to fuse. So not only has he had to live with a malfunctioning heat but the Ankylosing Spondylitis is causing inflammation and swelling around his heart as well. There are only a handful of people in the world with both of these crippling diseases.

In July, at a routine check-up here in Utah, Jason's Cardiologist found that he had developed an Aortic Aneuryism. The doctors explained this is life-threatening, and that without surgery,  death could happen at any time. Upon hearing the news, Jason consulted doctors both at the University of Utah and at Cleveland Clinic. After meeting with doctors, who specialize in his heart condition at Cleveland Clinic, it was determined that surgery would need to be performed ASAP. The surgery is scheduled on November 29th. During his surgery in Cleveland, the doctors will repair/replace the bulging Aortic Valve. It is a full open-heart surgery with 9 weeks recovery. 

Since this surgery news hit Jason's family so quickly, we are asking for donations to Jason and his family. Your donations will be used to help pay for flights for him and his wife Kelly, hotels, help off-set extreme medical costs, help cover life expenses, as neither can work during that time, and help make ends meet while he recovers. Anyone who knows Jason, knows he loves his family more than the world.  Those of you who know him know he will fight through this trial and get back home to his children here in Utah.

 We are asking for donations of any size to help him and his family during this difficult time.