Dear friends and family,

We are reaching out to you with heavy hearts to share the story of Kathleen, our beloved daughter, sister, and friend who recently faced a sudden series of life-threatening cardiac arrests.

Kathleen, at 35 years young, is a fun-loving mother of four, with her youngest being just 10 months old. Kathleen has had no prior history of heart issues, making this all the more shocking and unexpected. She has been a warrior, fighting an incredible battle for her life, and displaying unwavering resilience and recovery. Kathleen’s children add an extra layer of love and motivation and they are a testament to her strength as a mother and her enduring love for her family. However, the path to her full recovery remains long and uncertain.

Prior to her hospitalization, Kathleen was on the verge of pursuing a career in real estate, with plans to take the licensure exam. She had been tirelessly working towards her goals but now, Kathleen's journey to recovery is her primary focus. A dedicated team of medical professionals and healthcare experts is committed to restoring her to a life where she can continue to be the charismatic, spunky, silly, and fun-loving woman we have always known and cherished.

We invite you to join us in supporting Kathleen on this challenging road ahead. Your generosity, prayers, and well-wishes are deeply appreciated as we work towards her healing and the return of her vibrant spirit.

Kathleen’s Story:

On September 25th, 2023, Kathleen suffered a cardiac arrest at her home in the early morning. Her boyfriend Steve, who happened to be awake, heard Kathleen utter "uh oh" followed by a loud thumping sound. Steve rushed to the hallway and found Kathleen unresponsive, not breathing, and without a pulse. Steve, who is CPR certified, immediately began performing chest compressions and called for an ambulance. Paramedics managed to restart Kathleen's pulse before transporting her to a local hospital.

Initially, we expected a standard assessment and recovery process after what we thought was a straightforward heart attack. However, the situation quickly took a different turn. Upon admission, Kathleen was sedated and intubated and on the first night at the hospital, she experienced three more cardiac arrests in rapid succession, all classified as pulseless electrical activity (PEA). Remarkably, the medical team at Saint Joseph's Hospital successfully resuscitated her each time. The hospital granted end-of-life visitation exceptions, allowing Kathleen's mom, dad, three siblings, and boyfriend to be with her around the clock - offering their prayers, company, and support. In the course of the following week, she experienced 6 additional cardiac arrests while at Saint Joseph’s, all requiring CPR for revival.

Upon admission to Saint Joseph's, Kathleen did test positive for Covid, which theoretically could have triggered the heart disruptions. However, her lungs were clear, and the usual Covid-related symptoms were absent - leaving the cardiologists puzzled. They did observe a prolonged QT interval (which is an irregular heart rhythm) but were uncertain about its source. The theories are that it could be due to Covid, a congenital issue, or stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Over the course of her stay at Saint Joseph’s, Kathleen developed COVID pneumonia and stress on her kidneys because of the heavy medications.

The source of Kathleen’s heart issue eluded the Saint Joseph’s medical team and they were eager to transfer her to a better-equipped facility but her critical condition posed challenges due to her going into cardiac arrest over minor disturbances. Initially, a temporary pacemaker was installed, but the emergency transport team was hesitant to move her due to the risk of cardiac arrest during transport. Kathleen's stability was so precarious that she was placed on a VA-ECMO machine, which is a life-support system that functions as an external lung and heart, supporting blood oxygen and circulation. This was a last resort measure but essential for safe transport. On September 30th, she was successfully transferred to CPMC Van Ness Medical Center in San Francisco, a top-10 facility for cardiology.

The CPMC medical team was able to stabilize her vitals and began to lift the sedation during the daytime. As Kathleen was gaining consciousness, she wanted to communicate but was still intubated and too weak to text. Her eldest sister Michelle helped her by having her point to letters on her phone. Her first messages were: "I want to see my kids" and "I don't want to die." Michelle continued to support her communication every day she was intubated. Helping to figure out movies Kathleen wanted to watch or audio recordings she wanted to listen to.

The CPMC medical team was able to successfully wean her off of the VA-ECMO machine (big win!), which had become the primary goal upon successful transport to their facility. This was followed by a couple of days of stability, allowing her lungs and kidneys some time to recover. However, she experienced an 11th cardiac arrest. To safeguard her heart, doctors installed a permanent 2-in-1 pacemaker/defibrillator known as AICD.

Since then, Kathleen has exhibited some arrhythmias but has not experienced a cardiac arrest. She continues to face unexplained blood pressure fluctuations, which are being medicated and closely monitored. She is making slow but steady progress in recovering from the pneumonia and kidney damage caused by the medications. And she was successfully brought off of sedation completely and finally extubated (more big wins!). She has begun very slow but steady physical therapy.

Our Goal:

We are seeking to raise $10,000 to offset the financial stress that Kathleen and her family will endure while she recovers. With a full family, and an infant to care for, Kathleen’s medical attention will place a strain on her family’s regular income, and she is anticipating rehabilitation medical expenses.

Your support will make a significant difference in Kathleen's life, helping her on her journey to recovery and giving her a chance to regain her independence and continue sharing her radiant spirit with the world. We are immensely grateful for your kindness and generosity during this challenging time.

We commit to providing regular updates on Kathleen's progress. Your trust and support mean the world to us, and we want to keep you informed every step of the way.

How You Can Help:

We invite you to be a part of Kathleen’s journey to recovery by making a donation, sharing her story, keeping her in your prayers, or offering your support in any way you can.

We kindly ask that you share Kathleen's story and this campaign on your social media and within your network.

Every little bit helps, and together, we can make a significant difference in Kathleen and her family’s lives.

Thank You:

Thank you for taking the time to read Kathleen's story and consider supporting her during this challenging time. Your generosity and compassion mean more to us than words can express.