Join Jesslyn's Journey for a New Heart

Jesslyn is a sweet teenage girl who is in need of a new heart. She was born with a congenital heart defect where she has a bicuspid aortic valve, which means her heart valve only opens by 2 leaflets (or flaps) instead of three like in a normal heart. While she kept up with the yearly monitoring of her condition since birth, it has never given her trouble. At her last cardiac check-up, her echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) came back abnormal, prompting the doctor to do further testing. A cardiac MRI was ordered, which was also abnormal. To confirm what the doctors suspected, Jessi had to undergo a heart catheterization procedure, where they were able to insert a catheter inside her heart with a tiny camera attached. It was with this procedure that she and her family were handed the difficult diagnosis of Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM). Not only is this the rarest type of heart muscle disease, but it also carries the worst prognosis, oftentimes with a life expectancy of only 2-5 years. Sadly, there is no 'cure' for this condition, only treatments and/or surgery to help with its management. Unfortunately, in Jessi's case, she is already in heart failure and in need of a life-saving heart transplant. The team of specialists at Levine's Children's Hospital are working with her now to get her on the transplant list. They've said she will need a new heart within the next couple of months.

As you can imagine, this has been devastating news to this young lady and her family. In the last several weeks alone, they have been put under an enormous amount of strain; both from the emotional weight of what's to come, and then further financially due to the missed time from work and school in order to undergo a battery of testing and procedures. A heart transplant is a very serious and expensive surgery. Not only with the initial costs, but also the lifelong costs of the commitment to the required anti-rejection medications, follow-up appointments, and potentially even another transplant surgery down the road, as the average lifespan for a transplanted heart is just 12-14 years.

Like any 16-year-old, Jesslyn should only be worried about things like her first car and going to prom, not having to get a new heart in order to live. We ask that you please join us in her journey, and help out in any way you can. Her family could use and appreciate any financial support you are able to give—even if just $5 or $10, as every little bit helps and adds up. If you're not able to donate, we ask that you please remember her and her family in your prayers, and please share this so she can get all the support she needs as she faces one of life's most difficult trials. Thank you in advance for your prayers, donations, and support!