Hello Community -

I am initiating this GoFundMe page for Adarsa Antares, my dear sister. Please consider helping if you can, and spreading the word. After a life of service through midwifery, puppetry, music, homecare, and teaching - she is in the middle of an incredible medical challenge and needs help. Here is some more information about who she is and what she is going through:

Adarsa Antares is a retired homebirth midwife, Special Needs teacher and lifelong musician. Since the age of 33, she has been a seeker of Truth. At the age of 58, she has diminished in health due to a genetic condition called Titin. This causes heart failure. Though she has been living with this condition for 18 years, the time has come that in order to survive, Adarsa needs a new heart (or to have a pump put on in the case an organ cannot be found). She is currently at Cleveland Clinic waiting for this heart. There are some costs involved with taking this life-saving, open-heart surgery journey. Whether she is matched with a heart donor or has to have the LVAD pump installed, open-heart surgery is inevitable, which will entail staying at Cleveland Clinic for several weeks. The LVAD installation would be a treatment that is considered a "bridge to transplant." She would still be awaiting a heart transplant. Even though insurance covers the procedure and medications, there are other costs not covered that are requirements for either surgery. In addition, she is required to stay in Cleveland for 2 additional weeks with a 24/7 caregiver, and then two more weeks near home or in her home, again with a 24/7 caregiver. None of this 24/7 care is provided by the medical system nor is it covered by insurance. After this month of care, she will be required to travel to Cleveland every two weeks for six months. This means making many trips back and forth to Cleveland Clinic from Michigan, hotels in Cleveland, food while traveling, gas to a possible generous driver (Adarsa may not drive a car with an air bag for 6 months - so also possible bus fare in the event no driver can be found), and stipends to help with costs and time for two dear friends who have agreed to be caregivers after surgery. Any donation you would consider would be the greatest blessing but certainly not expected.

If Adarsa gets her heart or an LVAD as a bridge to transplant, she can go back to the things she loves, which are: singing and playing music at two different churches, doing environmental zero-waste lectures at local community venues, working at the food pantry, participating in her community time bank, holding crafting classes, and her love for senior care.

Adarsa lives in service of community. Please join me in giving back right now, during her greatest time of need. Thank you for giving what you can give and spreading the word.

Kyrai Antares