Rally for Angelo's Heart Surgery Needs

Our dear friend, designer Angelo Surmelis, urgently needs your support. You may recognize Angelo from his transformative work on HGTV’s “Rate My Space” and “24 Hour Design,” or his collaborations with Lisa Rinna on Style Network’s “Merge,” and TLC’s “Clean Sweep.” Beyond television, Angelo has dedicated his life to creating beautiful, affordable home designs for folks all around the US.

A few years ago, Angelo faced a significant health crisis during a period when his insurance had lapsed. Determined to regain his health, he exhausted his savings, paying hundreds of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for medical care. After three years of relentless effort, he restored his well-being, only to encounter another unforeseen health challenge.

Last week, Angelo experienced severe shortness of breath and chest pain, prompting him to drive himself to the emergency room. Doctors diagnosed him with heart failure and a previously undetected congenital heart valve defect, necessitating immediate open-heart surgery. He has been hospitalized since, receiving excellent care, but the road ahead is daunting. The upcoming surgery involves opening his chest, followed by a minimum of two months of rehabilitation before he can consider returning to work. Full recovery is projected to take at least six months. Despite these challenges, his medical team is optimistic about his prospects for a long, healthy life.

The financial burden of this medical emergency is overwhelming, especially since Angelo’s previous health battle depleted his savings. While his current insurance will cover a portion of the expenses, he still faces substantial out-of-pocket costs, including hospital bills, copayments, medications, and surgical fees. Additionally, he will need support for living expenses during his extended recovery period.

Angelo has spent his career enhancing the lives of others through his design expertise and warm presence. Now, he needs our help. We are reaching out to the community to rally around Angelo in his time of need. Your generous contributions will directly assist with his medical and living expenses, allowing him to focus entirely on his recovery.

We understand that many are facing their own challenges, especially with recent events affecting the Los Angeles area. Any support you can provide—be it a donation or sharing this campaign within your networks—will make a significant difference. Together, we can help Angelo overcome this hurdle and return to the work he loves.

Thank you for your compassion and generosity.