My name is Jasmine Labs, and I'm reaching out for financial assistance as my family and I navigate a challenging medical journey ahead. I was born with a congenital heart disease called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), where I was born without the left side of my heart. I have had 3 open heart surgeries all before the age of three. Doctors told my parents I would likely need a heart transplant between the ages of 8-10; but I kept fighting and we didn’t need to do any major interventions until now.

Since 2019, my health has slowly gone downhill, with this last year getting increasingly worse. November 2024, we started the long process of getting registered on the transplant list. After many medication changes, cardiac catheterizations, multiple paracentesis procedures, and hospital admissions; my care team and I have decided it is now time for a new heart.

My most recent heart catheterization has shown that, despite being on a high dose of Bumetanide (a medication to help remove excess fluid from my body) and fourteen other prescription medications; my body is retaining immense amounts of fluid and my cardiac output has severely decreased. This means that my heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the demands of my body and therefore, my fluid levels increase. My pressures become elevated and it’s extremely difficult for me to do basic things; like walking, showering, brushing my hair, and getting dressed. I experience shortness of breath, swelling in my abdomen, and overall discomfort daily. This has been my new norm for almost a year. My quality of life has deteriorated.

Since November 2024, I have been working part-time (reduced from 60 hours/week) because I could no longer perform my regular job duties, and my medical needs required more appointments, travel, and unplanned interventions where I needed to take time off. Since the beginning of July, my doctors and I have decided that I need to completely stop working and take time to rest and focus on my health and what my body is telling me it needs. The funds I am seeking through this GoFundMe are intended to cover medical and living expenses while I am admitted to the hospital and wait for a miracle match of a donor heart, and for the extensive care that follows.

In order to receive the help I need, I require assistance. It is hard to even consider my life coming to a complete pause as my family and I navigate all the hurdles ahead. The goal I’ve set is an attempt to bridge the gap in my financial needs, covering medical and living expenses and help my family with travel and time off work that is needed. We don’t know how long I will be admitted before my heart transplant takes place (we've been told 2-4 months), but we do know the average time of recovery in the hospital after surgery is 2-3 months, with an extended stay in the Milwaukee area for another 2-3 months. I will continue recovering and be out of work for 12+ months after that. Stay updated on Jasmine's journey through her CaringBridge site: https://www.caringbridge.org/site/80efa401-7877-11f0-bb10-cf6c334d678f?utm_source=website_share&utm_medium=share_button&utm_term=&utm_content=link_share_button&utm_campaign=private_home_page

Any support, whether through donations, communication, prayers or positive thoughts, is deeply appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

Jasmine and family