Support for Bernie Gowen's Heart Recovery

Support for Bernie Gowen’s Heart Recovery

On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, our dear friend Bernie Gowen suffered a life-threatening heart event while at work. He was rushed to the ER and then airlifted to the ICU at UVA Medical Center, where he remains under critical care.

Bernie’s aorta became completely disconnected from his heart — a devastating and rare complication. Due to the severity of his condition, doctors are currently waiting for his aorta and surrounding tissue to stabilize before they can move forward with life-saving heart surgery. On top of that, he’s also dealing with fluid buildup in his lungs.

Bernie has been living with Marfan Syndrome since the age of 15 — a condition that affects the heart’s aorta and valves. This diagnosis now means he’s facing major heart surgery, followed by an extensive and difficult cardiac rehabilitation.

As you can imagine, Bernie will be unable to work for the foreseeable future, and his wife, Tara, has also had to step away from work to be by his side during this uncertain time. The financial impact is already beginning to build — from mounting medical bills, to travel expenses back and forth to Charlottesville, to simply making sure the family has warm meals and daily support.

We’re reaching out to ask for help. Any amount, no matter how small, will make a difference and allow Bernie and Tara to focus on healing instead of the stress of financial strain.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for the love, prayers, and support. The Gowen family is so grateful for each and every one of you.