Lisa Sasser's Open Heart Surgery Round 2
Donation protected
I am raising money on behalf of the wife of a very close friend of many many years. Lisa Sasser will be undergoing open heart surgery that will create a bill of over $15,000 out of pocket for deductible and copays and $10,000 in lost wages from Jeff & Lisa not being able to work. This will be her second round of open heart surgeries. The surgery will be at the Cleveland clinic the week of November the 16th. Please send prayers and any donation that you can afford. Thank You
Lisa's story:
As most of you know I have a genetic heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Basically with HCM the heart is twice the size of the average heart, it thickens because it has to work extra hard, all parts of the heart can be affected by the HCM.
Seven years ago my heart was so thick around the septum that blood could not flow through well, so I went to the Cleveland Heart Clinic(top surgeons in the world) for open heart surgery so they could perform a septal myectomy. The surgeons also recommended an ICD (internal cardiac device) because most people with HCM have electrical problems with their heart also and most die from sudden death because the heart just stops or the heart goes AFIB.
Insurance denied the ICD at that time, however 6 months after surgery Insurance paid for my ICD after my heart decided to stop, restart, and went on a crazy spree as the doctors at UT called it beating 2 times a minute to 244 beats a minute. My ICD/pacemaker is there now to hopefully shock my heart to restart if needed and it paces my heart 97% of the time.
Two years ago my local cardiologist started watching my heart valve because it appeared to be thickening and not functioning as well, last year when it was time for my yearly Echocardiogram it was in the same month that my ICD surgery was to move it from my left side to my right side so that I could do radiation treatments for breast cancer, and my cardiologist said let’s get you through this surgery and through the breast cancer treatments, then we will check heart again.
So here it is 2020, I had my echocardiogram a few weeks ago and then had to go back for a TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram- the best view they can get of the heart) I knew that the news would not be good because of the symptoms I was having, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue.
The diagnosis is that my aortic valve has thickened and is barely opening to let blood flow through. My cardiologist said I would have to have open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve. I knew in rare instances that sometimes some patients with HCM had to have open heart surgery a 2nd time, and to be honest I had told Jeff that I would never go through it again. (Never say never) I asked my cardiologist if I could just live with the symptoms and he said no, I had to have it replaced because if not I will die of sudden cardiac death.
So please be in prayer for me that the Lord would sustain me until I can have the surgery, for Jeff and my kids as I face another open heart surgery. We have started the process again to go to the Cleveland Heart Clinic.
Specific prayers, that insurance approves this surgery there, because there is not much experience with HCM in Knoxville and that anything else that needs to be done insurance will approve. That the Lord will provide financially for the travels and the days/ weeks that Jeff could miss from work. That the surgery will go smoothly this time and that my heart would stay in rhythm. (Last time I was in hospital for 16 days and we were in Cleveland for 20 total days) Pray for Jeff as he will be my caregiver at the hospital and then when I come home. Because of the Covid he will not have others there to relieve him. And mostly pray for our spirits, especially Jeff, our kids and grandkids. Just like the breast cancer, I know that this comes as no surprise to our Lord and I know he has got this. We trust the medical doctors to do their part, but our ultimate trust is in our Heavenly Father. His healing touch, like His love, endures forever.
I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. 2 Kings 20:5
Lisa's story:
As most of you know I have a genetic heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Basically with HCM the heart is twice the size of the average heart, it thickens because it has to work extra hard, all parts of the heart can be affected by the HCM.
Seven years ago my heart was so thick around the septum that blood could not flow through well, so I went to the Cleveland Heart Clinic(top surgeons in the world) for open heart surgery so they could perform a septal myectomy. The surgeons also recommended an ICD (internal cardiac device) because most people with HCM have electrical problems with their heart also and most die from sudden death because the heart just stops or the heart goes AFIB.
Insurance denied the ICD at that time, however 6 months after surgery Insurance paid for my ICD after my heart decided to stop, restart, and went on a crazy spree as the doctors at UT called it beating 2 times a minute to 244 beats a minute. My ICD/pacemaker is there now to hopefully shock my heart to restart if needed and it paces my heart 97% of the time.
Two years ago my local cardiologist started watching my heart valve because it appeared to be thickening and not functioning as well, last year when it was time for my yearly Echocardiogram it was in the same month that my ICD surgery was to move it from my left side to my right side so that I could do radiation treatments for breast cancer, and my cardiologist said let’s get you through this surgery and through the breast cancer treatments, then we will check heart again.
So here it is 2020, I had my echocardiogram a few weeks ago and then had to go back for a TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram- the best view they can get of the heart) I knew that the news would not be good because of the symptoms I was having, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue.
The diagnosis is that my aortic valve has thickened and is barely opening to let blood flow through. My cardiologist said I would have to have open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve. I knew in rare instances that sometimes some patients with HCM had to have open heart surgery a 2nd time, and to be honest I had told Jeff that I would never go through it again. (Never say never) I asked my cardiologist if I could just live with the symptoms and he said no, I had to have it replaced because if not I will die of sudden cardiac death.
So please be in prayer for me that the Lord would sustain me until I can have the surgery, for Jeff and my kids as I face another open heart surgery. We have started the process again to go to the Cleveland Heart Clinic.
Specific prayers, that insurance approves this surgery there, because there is not much experience with HCM in Knoxville and that anything else that needs to be done insurance will approve. That the Lord will provide financially for the travels and the days/ weeks that Jeff could miss from work. That the surgery will go smoothly this time and that my heart would stay in rhythm. (Last time I was in hospital for 16 days and we were in Cleveland for 20 total days) Pray for Jeff as he will be my caregiver at the hospital and then when I come home. Because of the Covid he will not have others there to relieve him. And mostly pray for our spirits, especially Jeff, our kids and grandkids. Just like the breast cancer, I know that this comes as no surprise to our Lord and I know he has got this. We trust the medical doctors to do their part, but our ultimate trust is in our Heavenly Father. His healing touch, like His love, endures forever.
I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. 2 Kings 20:5
Organizer
Jeff Wooley
Organizer
Springfield, MO
