Hello, our names are James Cooper and Brandy Spaid, and we would appreciate you taking a moment to read our sister, Heather’s story.

Roughly a year ago, Heather and our Mother were diagnosed with a gene mutation, CDH1. The mutation puts those with it at risk of developing a deadly form of stomach cancer. The only effective treatment option is to have a complete gastrectomy (stomach removal surgery). Our Mom went in for this surgery on October 8th and unfortunately suffered complications and passed away on October 12th.

Our sister, Heather, courageously decided to move forward with her surgery on October 23rd. Heather was making great progress in her recovery journey until October 31st. Unfortunately, Heather unexpectedly threw up causing her to aspirate. Upon aspirating, her medical team determined that she had a small hole within the surgical site which had been leaking bile into her abdominal cavity. This hole is what ultimately led her to vomit and aspirate on bile.

Heather’s body was so weak trying to fight the aspiration and sepsis that her team of doctors told us that if she wasn’t placed on a ventilator to assist her breathing and an ECMO machine to circulate and oxygenate her blood, she would not make it through the night.

During the last 2 weeks, Heather has dealt with large and small setbacks, including poor circulation, kidney and liver shock, thrush, and a fungal infection in her lungs. We also learned that had Heather not had her stomach removed when she did, in 6 months to a year, we would be planning a funeral as she had stomach cancer at the young age of 35!

Currently, Heather is off sedation and the ECMO machine and is doing well. Unfortunately, she isn’t out of the woods just yet. Due to her critical condition and the ECMO, Heather lost blood flow and pulse to her right leg. Her doctors did everything they could to save her leg but unfortunately, her leg sustained too much tissue death and will have to be amputated once she is stronger.

Due to the accumulating medical bills, months-long hospital stay, unpaid medical leave from her job, vehicle modifications, and house modifications to assist with her new mobility challenges, we are requesting your assistance in raising the much-needed funds to lighten the burden. Any assistance or sharing of her story would be greatly appreciate.

Thank you for reading Heather’s story.