Mission: Love for Sheri

Thank you for taking the time to read our story! My bestie, Sheri, is in need of immediate financial help. Here is her story. Sheri got diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 1995. After years of combating her illness and wearing a defibrillator, she became very ill and went into the hospital to fight to stay alive until a heart became available for her transplant.  Our prayers were answered in December 2015: the BEST Christmas present EVER! At that time, her medical team determined that she would need Social Security Disability for life, as Sheri would unlikely be able to work after the transplant.

Unexpectedly, this summer, Sheri received a letter that Social Security was stopping her income and medical benefits, as they deemed her able to work again. After that shocking notice, Sheri began spending her days applying for jobs, even though I, as her one of her closest friends, was desperate to find another answer because I did not want her to risk her health by working. Sheri also immediately filed an appeal, and was denied in early November. Since she had no insurance for several months, she could not obtain her heart echo test, which may have very well prevented her current, dangerous, medical situation.

You see, Sheri looks normal when you see her. What you may not notice is that she gets winded easily, she needs to take many sitting breaks to maintain her energy, and she is doing everything she can to live a normal, joyful life, despite the limitations that come along with having a transplanted heart. I honestly have never met such a sweet, loving, empathetic soul in my life.

Earlier this week, Sheri's body began rejecting her transplanted heart and she was hospitalized; she is currently in the ICU receiving life saving treatment. She will likely be there for the next couple of weeks while the doctors try to minimize the damage already done to the heart and strengthen the heart so it beats stronger and keeps my precious friend alive.

The doctors and social workers at the hospital are submitting another, strongly worded, professional appeal so that Sheri can regain her Social Security Disability and medical benefits. In the mean time, we are trying every possible thing to ensure Sheri does not lose her house, including calling churches, social service organizations, and working with the mortgage company to hold off on foreclosure until she can get back on her feet. Now we ask you, our friends, to consider making a donation to support Sheri. Anything you can do helps, including prayers. And we thank you so much, from the bottom of our hearts.