LaRon Hartner’s journey to a new heart.

LaRon Huff Hartner and her husband John need your support. The need for a heart transplant came as a complete surprise, as LaRon was active and healthy until diagnosed with Heart Failure in March. LaRon had a lingering cough and congestion with some shortness of breath in February and was diagnosed with Bronchitis at Urgent Care. Her symptoms worsened with increased dyspnea at rest, nausea and vomiting. She was admitted to the hospital where an echo revealed she has Mitral Valve regurgitation and her heart is only functioning at 15%. The nausea and vomiting she experienced was due to fluid in her chest and upper abdomen. She underwent a cardiac catheterization that showed no blockages causing her heart failure. LaRon was prescribed the correct medications by the cardiologist but had no improvement . After a week in IMCU, she was discharged home as there was not a Heart Failure specialist in the Las Vegas area.

After a week at home, LaRon’s condition continued to decline with a continuous low blood pressure, increasing shortness of breath and lack of energy. Her heart was already too weak to respond to oral treatment. With family intervention, LaRon was referred to a Heart Failure specialist in the Atlanta , Georgia area. After reviewing all of her test results, the specialist conducted a virtual visit with LaRon and accepted her as a patient. She was flown to Georgia 2 days later and admitted to the hospital there. After a cardiac MRI and a right heart catheterization , she was started on a 48 hour trial of the IV Heart Failure medication. Unfortunately, her heart did not respond as hoped and she was told she will need a heart transplant as soon as possible.

LaRon is still in the hospital in Georgia. Her central line has been removed and a PICC inserted. She has been switched to the IV medication required at home to keep her heart pumping until she can get a donor heart. She is being monitored another day prior to going home.

LaRon will be discharged to her parent’s home temporarily with Home Care Nursing to manage the IV heart medication. She will then transfer directly to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for work up for the transplant or to her home in Las Vegas until an appointment becomes available. She will require Home Care nursing to manage the IV medication until the heart transplant.

LaRon is an amazing, devoted and loving wife and mother. She and John met in Las Vegas and have been married for almost 25 years. John is a Metro Police Officer for the Las Vegas Police Department. They have 3 children. Their daughter Saylor is a junior at Southern Utah University. Their oldest son Hayden is a senior at Arbor View High School and their youngest Hunter is 11 and in the 6th grade. LaRon’s parents are Larry and Anne Huff. She was born in Virginia. At age 3, her family moved to Georgia where she grew up. She attended McEachern High School.

LaRon is going to require continued in home medical care before and after the heart transplant. She will also require the continuous IV medication until she receives a new heart. She will be out of work indefinitely. While she has health insurance , it does not completely cover the IV medication required along with other expenses. John will need to be out of work to take her to LA for appointments and to care for her at home. This will require hotels, food and gas when traveling away from home prior to and after the transplant. LaRon will be on call for a donor heart where she will have 6 hours to arrive when notified of an available donor match. John will be out of work during and after the transplant to care for her. Deductibles and out of pocket medical expenses have and will continue to rise.

LaRon is at the beginning of her journey for a new heart. There will be mountains and valleys along her journey. First, we ask for prayers on behalf of LaRon and her family, that a donor heart becomes available soon, and her transplant is a success. We also ask for prayers on the behalf of her doctors, surgeons and donor family. Second, this Go Fund me was created to help relieve some of the financial burden from the Hartner’s so they can focus on LaRon’s care and recovery.