Hello, my name is Mark Mahler. On August 19th, 2023 I suffered a cardiac event which was masked by my long battle with juvenile diabetes. I thought I had been suffering from Acid Reflux, but in fact there was an underlying heart issues and the heart was severely damaged partly because of the undetected attacks, but also because of my diabetes.

I started my journey in Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, IL where the staff was amazing, but didn't have the tools to perform a save heart procedure. The decision to move to me Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where they specialize in heart procedures. The staff here is also outstanding.

After 3 weeks nothing is written in stone. Can I handle a bypass? Can I handle an LVAD procedure? Can they send me home on meds to try and strengthen the heart? I've got a massive team of doctors checking the best avenues, the unknowns, and what potential best paths would be for me and my quality of life.

For those of you that have known and know me, I'm not doing down without a massive fight. It took me a couple weeks to assess how bad this was for my wife and family, and I had to swallow my pride and ask friends and family if they might be able to help me with these ungodly payments and bills I'm looking at while I'm laid up.

If you can spare a dollar or two it will help in the biggest way. I'm hoping any unused medical bill money can be turned into donations for JDRF and American Heart Association to research unique situations like mine.

I have never been shy about asking for help when it comes to things outside of my personal life, but in this case I need a lot of help to navigate these uncharted waters and again ask if you have some spare change, I'm worth betting on.

I told the doctors, if it's the bottom of the 9th inning I want the ball and I will get three strike outs. Just get me a lead and the ball into my hands.

Thank you from the bottom of this damaged heart,

Mark and the Mahler's