Anthony's New Heart

Jeanette Gruden is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Michele Youngs.

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Friends and Family,

As some of you may know, Anthony has severe coronary artery disease. In 2019 he underwent triple bypass surgery and was doing well for about a year until one of the bypass grafts failed, and he has suffered several heart attacks since then, requiring stent placements (a total of 17 stents placed). However, despite optimizing medications, diet and life-style, his body is not responding to the stents and they keep blocking back up causing more heart attacks.

Over Labor Day Weekend, Anthony had another heart attack. Thankfully, he was able to make it up to his cardiology team at the University of Florida. He underwent another heart catherterization, and with how his heart looked and his heart was functioning, it was deemed that his heart was no longer salvageable and that the only way to get better is to have a heart transplant. Due to his weak heart, the doctors had to place a device called an Impella. This device is pumping for Anthony's heart to prevent further deterioration of his unsalvageable heart and keep him alive and functioning. Anthony was listed on the transplant list as a Status 2 on Friday September 9th.

The process for a heart transplant is a marathon, not a sprint. Anthony will have to keep the Impella device in and stay at UF Shands Heart and Vascular Hospital until he receives a new heart, which they have been told will likely be at least several months. Anthony's family has been traveling back and forth from Ft Myers and Pittsburgh to be with him during this marathon.

The Youngs Family has had so many people ask what they can do, so I wanted to start this GoFundMe as a way for those who love and care about this family to help out. These funds will be used for these unexpected medical costs and to help alleviate the family's travel and housing costs, as Anthony is 4 hours from his home. His family will also need temporary housing for the months leading up to the heart transplant and for the months following. Funds will be given directly to his wife Michele and daughters Ashley and Shelby.