My name is Laura Clark Hamill. My brother, Chris Clark, had a life-threatening health emergency. He had been feeling ill for a while and didn’t realize how emergent the situation was as he has never had any health issues, but when he checked himself into the emergency room on January 19th he was unknowingly in congestive heart failure and was admitted immediately! He was treated and they began many tests only to find he had Mitral Valve Regurgitation. As a result, he had to have open-heart surgery on January 26th in Charlotte to replace a valve, do a single bypass, as well as an additional valve repair! He became sicker just before and even during the surgery, and after 9 hours of surgery, they had to stop and place him on full life support to allow his body and heart to rest and heal!

They were then able to finish the surgery and close his chest on Friday, January 30!

The Cardiac team at Atrium Medical has been the most compassionate and professional I have ever experienced and for those that know me, know that I have experienced many hospitals with other family members!

Chris was improving and even his Cardiac Surgeon gave us hope right up to the last hours that he would make a full but long recovery, but even on full life support for over 10 days, his body was too sick and weak to sustain a blood pressure even on the highest doses of BP meds. After this heartbreaking news and realization of the prognosis just hours after our last visit on Friday February 6th, the doctors called to say there was no more they could do and we knew he had to be at his final resting place, with Jesus.

He is healed, just not here on earth with us.

This fundraiser was started to bring him into recovery and home to heal, to give his second chance with a repaired heart a new life and start fresh. We are heartbroken that this is now a fundraiser to give him a celebration of life that he so much deserves.

We appreciate even the smallest amount you can offer!