Jerry is my 28-year-old son, and he’s always been outgoing, spending time with friends, playing video games, and cherishing moments with family. For the past eight years, Jerry has faced ongoing heart challenges, but this year his journey became much more serious. After multiple hospital stays, his doctors determined that all possible treatments to strengthen his heart had been exhausted. Fluid continued to build up in his body, and in early October, Jerry was transferred to Duke Hospital, where he remains until a suitable heart can be found for him. He’s now officially on the heart transplant list and is being closely monitored by a dedicated medical team at Duke.

The costs associated with Jerry’s care are overwhelming. We’re facing mounting medical bills, the expense of medications he’ll need before and after the transplant, and frequent travel to and from the hospital for ongoing care. Jerry’s recovery will be a long process, lasting nearly a year, as his medical team works to prevent rejection and manage his new regimen of medications. These expenses are more than our family can manage alone, and we’re preparing for unexpected costs that may arise during his recovery.

As Jerry’s mother, I’m constantly traveling to be by his side, doing everything I can to support him and keep our family strong. Watching my son fight for his life is a struggle that words can hardly describe. We’re holding onto faith and each other, praying for comfort, understanding, and peace as we navigate this uncertain journey. Any support from our community would mean the world to us, helping Jerry get the care he needs and giving our family hope in the midst of this storm.