Hi, my name is Kate, meet my sister, Janet Shepard Walker. Janet is 59 years old and waiting for a heart transplant. We are asking for help in funding expenses associated with the transplant.
In 2004 Janet suffered a heart attack. In the following 9 months, she suffered two more heart attacks, and had 3 stents implanted. In 2006, the doctors implanted a defibrillator in her chest. In 2015, the doctors discovered that Janet had suffered an aortic dissection (Basically her heart blew up.) If it weren't for the stents and scar tissue, Janet would most likely have died. During the course of this incident, Janet learned that her heart muscle was functioning at only 12% and was told to put her affairs in order. In spite of these health issues, Janet managed to maintain steady employment and care for her daughter who was 5 years old when Janet had her first heart attack.
Before the heart attack, Janet worked as a bartender, earning good money in a busy sports bar. She bought a house, had a nice car, got married, and adopted her daughter. In 2004, her marriage ended. Shortly thereafter she had her first heart attack. By 2009, her health had deteriorated to the point where she was struggling physically to keep up at work and was forced to quit her job. As a result, she lost her house.
Janet did not let her health keep her down though. In 2010, Janet went back to school to learn medical billing and graduated at the top of her class. In spite of the high grades and excellent references from an internship, she was unable to find a full-time job. She did however, find a seasonal, part-time job and she worked at that job until COVID-19 when, like so many others, she was let go and the company folded. Since then, she has had only her Social Security Disability for income.
Of the four children in our family, Janet is the only one living in Las Vegas and able to assist our 94-year-old mother. Since COVID-19, she has been invaluable to our mother, driving her to various medical appointments, making sure she has groceries and sundries, taking her out for Sunday drives and ice cream, and just being there for company.
Our mother is not the only beneficiary of Janet's caring attitude and big heart. She has always been a giver, putting her friends' needs ahead of her own, never asking for anything in return. She has also helped our mother's elderly friends with errands and transportation.
Janet has been doing cardiac physical therapy to improve her overall health, but she she still cannot do simple tasks like walking to the mailbox, or sweeping her floor with out getting winded or lightheaded. She has had to stop and sit down to rest in parking lots because she could not make it all the way inside the store. In spite of these physical limitations, she pushes forward and maintains a cheerful outlook.
During a visit with her cardiologist in September 2021, the doctor said he believed Janet would be a good candidate for a heart transplant which would improve her quality of life. He then arranged an appointment with some transplant specialists from Utah to discuss the procedure. That meeting went well and resulted in a follow-up appointment. October 21, 2021, Janet met again with her cardiologist and the heart transplant doctor from Utah, who told her that she is in heart failure. The said they need to conduct further testing. She has already completed some tests in Las Vegas, and must fly to Utah for additional tests to be conducted December 6 and 7, 2021.
When Janet receives the transplant, she will need to stay near the hospital, located in Murray, Utah, for approximately 6 months, possibly a year. She will require round-the-clock caretakers living with her for the entire 6 months. Due to the fact that Janet has no family in Utah, her siblings, her childhood friend, and her ex-husband will have to travel to Utah to take turns caring for Janet during this lengthy recovery.
We are asking for $45,000 to assist with travel expenses, housing and utilities, food, and miscellaneous expenses incurred relative to the the upcoming appointment in Utah and eventual surgery and recovery.
Unfortunately, we are scattered across the country and will need to fly to and from Utah. Janet's daughter, now 22, will not be joining her in Utah, but will remain in Las Vegas as she has a job and needs to care for their home and pets, and will assist her Grandma with shopping, transportation to appointments, and whatever else she may need.
Please donate what you can and share Janet's story with your friends and families. We appreciate your generosity and kindness and are sending prayers of gratitude to you for giving Janet a new lease on life.