I am creating this GoFundMe page for our Mother Lisa (Little) Cope. She was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy over a decade ago and recently took a turn for the worse. She has had a defibrillator for nearly 10 years and was being monitored by her physicians. In the last few months she was referred to Kaiser Santa Clara’s Advanced heart failure team. On October 22nd, she went to Santa Clara for a routine procedure to check up on her heart function. They discovered she was approaching liver failure due to her heart being unable to function, they also discovered that her heart has weakened to the point the doctors think it’s a miracle she was able to walk in that day.

 

At this point, they hospitalized her in the CICU and do not want her to return home until she receives a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) as a Bridge to a heart transplant. She is doing well and in high spirits in the CICU, but she would not be able to function in day-to-day life without an LVAD. An LVAD is a mechanical device that replaces the function of a failing heart, and acts as a life-sustaining device while patients await a hear transplant. As of this writing, the LVAD surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, November 2nd 2021.

 

Lisa lost her mother at the age of 5 to heart disease. She almost lost her sister Janice to heart disease over a decade ago. The LVAD and subsequent heart transplant saved Janice’s life. This is now the journey that Lisa is on to save her life. She needs an LVAD and will soon after need a heart transplant.

 

Lisa and Janice have a rare genetic disease that causes heart failure, PLN Cardiomyopathy, which is caused by a genetic mutation in the DNA. This disease often leads to severe heart failure and also sudden premature death. This is an inherited disease. Lisa and her physicians have done everything possible to maintain her health, but her genes are in control. Now is the time to undergo extensive surgery, which requires a minimum of 6-8 weeks of recovery in Santa Clara, CA. Then further recovery at home in Penryn, CA. This is just the beginning of a long road ahead for Lisa and her family.

 

Lisa will need assistance with the costs of maintaining her home in Penryn, CA and maintaining her temporary home in Santa Clara, CA simultaneously along with medical expenses, transportation costs for her and her children, food, etc. Lisa’s recovery requires a hands-on caregiver to be with her, which can be one of her children, sister, significant other, etc. This is a very hands-on time intensive situation that will place a financial burden on those assisting in her care, not to mention the psychosocial burden as well.

 

Lisa and her family would greatly appreciate your prayers during this time. Prayer for a successful surgery, fast and complete recovery, and for strength for Lisa and her children. The family would also appreciate monetary donations or gift cards to gas stations, grocery stores, etc. Every dollar counts and will be used toward the care of Lisa and supporting her to return to a normal life with the assistance of an LVAD. Even $5 would cover a gallon of gas for her caregivers, or appointments in Santa Clara. We would be very grateful if you could share this page with her friends and family. We know she has touched many lives over the years (animal and human) and we hope that her many friends can help her during this difficult time, whether that is with phone calls, visits, donations, and most importantly, prayer.

 

We will use this page as a central place to update everyone on Lisa’s progress.

 

Thank you