Neil Garvis is fighting for his life and waiting for a heart transplant! 10 years ago Neil's heart started to solidify and parts of his heart have died off. With the medical care Neil has received in Houston, he has survived with a low functioning heart. In October 2014, his heart took a turn for the worst and surgical intervention to re-pipe Neil's heart with an LVAD became medically necessary. Thanks to the LVAD, the Garvis family has extra time to find a heart. Neil and his family have recently decided to seek care in Dallas in hopes that a heart will be available in the next few months. Insurance is expected to pay 70% of the cost of transplant, but that still leaves 30% completely out of pocket! Aside from medical costs, the Garvis family will also face a tremendous amount of travel expenses including gas, lodging accommodations while out of town, food, parking and so much more! Help us get Neil the heart he desperately needs! No amount is too small and every donation will be greatly appreciated!
The Back Story:
When Neil Garvis was 5 years old, he was diagnosed with the rare childhood cancer Rhabdomyosarcoma. In an effort to save his life, he was given extremely high doses of toxic chemotherapy. Neil beat the odds and survived the cancer, but not without long term consequences. Neil lost one eye and began having heart problems in 2005. The cardiotoxicity made itself known when parts of his heart began dying off. When this happened, Neil's heart grew enlarged due to its inability to effectively pump out blood. Thanks to many surgeries and excellent medical care, Neil has been able to live with a low functioning heart. In October 2014, Neil's heart could no longer effectively pump blood and a life saving, yet temporary, surgery to implant a Left Ventricle Assistant Device (LVAD) was necessary http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ventricular-assist-devices/multimedia/left-ventricular-assist-device-lvad/img-20006714 . This surgery is intended to be an interim fix until a heart can be found for transplant. After being on the heart transplant list in Houston for 5 years with no success, it has become imperative to seek treatment in the number 1 rated heart location in Texas, Dallas.
Over the next several months Neil (and occasionally his family) will be commuting to Dallas for pre-op appointments, and when the time is right he will be temporarily relocating to Dallas for transplant. This is where we need your help. Insurance will only cover 70% of the medical care Neil needs, and the Garvis family is
expected to come up with the other 30%. They will also be burdened with hotel costs, transportation, food and
other unforeseen costs associated with out of town care. Neil will also be out of work for a minimum of 3
months taking away their main source of income. Neil's wife Krista has returned to teaching in an effort to help support their family through this trial but she can not do it alone. Neil and Krista have two beautiful, young children Emma and Fischer who need their dad to be healthy! Please gather together to help our friend get the heart he needs to live!
The Back Story:
When Neil Garvis was 5 years old, he was diagnosed with the rare childhood cancer Rhabdomyosarcoma. In an effort to save his life, he was given extremely high doses of toxic chemotherapy. Neil beat the odds and survived the cancer, but not without long term consequences. Neil lost one eye and began having heart problems in 2005. The cardiotoxicity made itself known when parts of his heart began dying off. When this happened, Neil's heart grew enlarged due to its inability to effectively pump out blood. Thanks to many surgeries and excellent medical care, Neil has been able to live with a low functioning heart. In October 2014, Neil's heart could no longer effectively pump blood and a life saving, yet temporary, surgery to implant a Left Ventricle Assistant Device (LVAD) was necessary http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ventricular-assist-devices/multimedia/left-ventricular-assist-device-lvad/img-20006714 . This surgery is intended to be an interim fix until a heart can be found for transplant. After being on the heart transplant list in Houston for 5 years with no success, it has become imperative to seek treatment in the number 1 rated heart location in Texas, Dallas.
Over the next several months Neil (and occasionally his family) will be commuting to Dallas for pre-op appointments, and when the time is right he will be temporarily relocating to Dallas for transplant. This is where we need your help. Insurance will only cover 70% of the medical care Neil needs, and the Garvis family is
expected to come up with the other 30%. They will also be burdened with hotel costs, transportation, food and
other unforeseen costs associated with out of town care. Neil will also be out of work for a minimum of 3
months taking away their main source of income. Neil's wife Krista has returned to teaching in an effort to help support their family through this trial but she can not do it alone. Neil and Krista have two beautiful, young children Emma and Fischer who need their dad to be healthy! Please gather together to help our friend get the heart he needs to live!