Hi, my name is Matt Perko and I'm fundraising to cover medical expenses for a 2nd heart transplant. I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure very unexpectedly at 19, and given a new heart at 21. Now, 24 years later I'm facing another heart transplant. I've surpassed all expectations with this first transplant but now I have a disease that all transplant recipients will face eventually, cardiac allograft vasculopathy. It's considered the Achilles Heel of heart transplantation.
I've been placed on the list for a new heart and will wait at home my family for that life changing call. It could happen any time, but the average wait for someone in my position is 1 year. Once I get the call I will have to pack up and drive to Cedars Sinai in LA to undergo the surgery. My recovery will hopefully be smooth as I am otherwise in good health, but there are no guarantees. I will have to relocate near the hospital in LA for the first 3 months so I can be seen at the hospital twice a week for biopsies and checkups. The first year is very critical to long term survival. My 12 year old son, who is on the autism spectrum, will be starting junior high at a new school and as a family we'll have to juggle living in 2 cities at once. Both my wife and I work full time to support our family and if my recovery has any unexpected bumps, I might lose my salary as I miss work. We already live paycheck to paycheck. This is where we need your help. We are trying to raise money to cover these living costs, transportation costs, and any other variables that should come our way. We appreciate your support.