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Samantha Needs Your Help for Brain & Heart Healing

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Help Sam Recover from Cardiac Arrest




A message from Samantha’s mother, Jessica:

Late on December 29th, my 32-year-old daughter, Sam, suffered a cardiac arrest at home in San Luis Obispo on the central coast.

An electrical malfunction, likely caused by a seizure, stopped her heart. For all intents and purposes, she died that night. Thankfully, Sam was not alone—her quick-thinking friend administered chest compressions until paramedics arrived 8-10 minutes later. After two shocks from a defibrillator, they were able to bring her back.




However, Sam was without oxygen for a significant amount of time. She was placed on a ventilator, in a medically induced coma, and her body temperature was lowered to preserve her organs. At that point, I received the call every parent fears: I needed to be there to "make important decisions."




The Journey to Recovery

For the next five days, I commuted six hours daily between the hospital in San Luis Obispo and Thousand Oaks, where I was dog-sitting for a friend. With my 2005 Jeep and California gas prices, the commute alone cost nearly $100 per day. On New Year’s Day, Sam was taken off the ventilator. The relief was immense—but her road to recovery remains long and uncertain.




She has since made miraculous progress: she can sit up, feed herself, and even crack jokes—her personality is completely intact, including her trademark side-eye! But her heart is functioning at only 50%, and she has suffered serious brain damage due to lack of oxygen, impacting her short-term memory and placing her in a waking dream-like state.




The Current Challenge

Sam’s health insurance expired on December 31st, and the process of reinstating it could take weeks. Until it’s resolved, she cannot be transferred to a secondary care facility near my home in Los Angeles. She must remain in the hospital in San Luis Obispo, where she requires a 24/7 nurse sitter. I need to be with her to make all medical decisions, but she is running out of resources.



Generous friends have helped so far, but I have nearly exhausted my funds. Between gas, food, and accommodations, I’m struggling to make ends meet while ensuring Sam receives the care she needs.

A message from Samantha’s uncle, Jonathan:

Samantha and I are only nine years apart in age. Growing up together we thought of each other as brother and sister. Learning of her condition was one of the worst moments of my life. I love Samantha with all my heart. I held her in my arms after she was born. I watched her take her first steps. I warmed her milk bottle. I waited for her as she came running out of preschool. I was with her as she laughed and cried and tried to make sense of the world around her, and then… we grew up. I have always wished that I could be more present in her life. The fear of losing her has been a wake up call. I believe that Samantha will recover, and your help in this campaign is appreciated more deeply than you will ever know.







How You Can Help

We’re asking for your support to help cover:

Temporary housing near the hospital in San Luis Obispo

Gas and travel expenses

Basic living expenses while her mother stays by Sam’s side

Pending medical bills until her insurance is reinstated

Any contribution, no matter how small, would mean the world to Samantha and her mother. If you aren’t able to donate, sharing this campaign would help us tremendously.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity during this dark time. Sam is a fighter, and her mother is determined to be by her side every step of the way.



Thank you for your help.
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    Organizer and beneficiary

    Jonathan Heilig
    Organizer
    Los Angeles, CA
    Jessica Heilig
    Beneficiary

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