Open Heart Surgery Recovery

Last week my family friend of over 30 years, Holly, had their lives turned upside down. Her son, Javion, had to have emergency open heart surgery and is currently recovering at Chicago Children’s Hospital. Javion was born with a congenital heart disease and had his first heart surgery at six months old. He has had several surgeries since. Prior to the last surgery, he was enrolled into a clinical trial where he had a device embedded in him to support his survival. Last week, the doctors called and informed Holly that several patients that were in this study were dying due to pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs). She immediately took him in for scans to determine if Javion had clots, and he did. The hospital admitted him, and he had surgery two days later. Javion is currently in excruciating pain as one can imagine, and he requires 24/7 care. Due to this medical situation, Holly cannot work and must devote her time to caring for her son. She could really use our support thus the reason I am creating this GoFundMe.

Experience and message from Holly:

My son was born with Congenital Heart Disease. He has been having Open Heart Surgeries since he was six months old. I wouldn't wish that type of heartache on my worst enemy’s mother. My son was part of a study using GORE technology. Multiple patients, both adults and children who are a part of this study, were dying from the same thing, pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs). Because of this all the patients were required to get tests to check for blood clots. They found multiple blood clots in my son’s lungs and in his heart. We were admitted to the hospital, and he went into surgery that following Monday. Seeing him come out of the operating room after having his chest sawed open and heart cut open and repaired, with multiple chest tubes coming out of his body, IVs on both wrists and neck was devastating. Cords and tubes everywhere, machines beeping, alarms going off was heart wrenching. This was unexpected and very traumatic for myself, my children and especially my son. I'm a single mother with 4 children I love and take care of. I am the sole provider for my family. My son is unable to hold anything for at least 6-8 weeks due to his major open-heart surgery. I don't have money to hire someone to help take care of him. I can take care of him myself. The thing is it is a 24-hour job and I still have rent to pay and bills to pay and 4 children to take care of.