On October 13th, 2024, my mom Leslie Stepro called 911 because she couldn't breathe. Her heart stopped within seconds of being put on the stretcher, and she was brought back by EMTs. They attempted to stabilize my mom for a week at the first hospital, not realizing that part of her heart was rupturing from the cardiac events she had just experienced. Her lungs were unable to oxygenate on their own, and we were running out of things to try.

Without knowing what was wrong beyond ARDS, they rushed her to Norton Audubon. There, an amazing team put her on ECMO.

A new heart echo showed a ruptured chordae tendineae, which had caused blood to back into her lungs. Within days of finding it, they took her off of ECMO, and she had a triple bypass + mitral valve replacement. Then, by Friday, she was off the ventilator -- and for the first time in a month, we could talk to her again.

The road hasn't cleared up yet, but there is a road. My mom has survived something normally unsurvivable. A doctor said to me, "it's clear her time on earth isn't done yet." Anyone who knows my mom knows she is one of the best people on this planet. My mom lived by the idea if someone steals your shirt from you, give them your coat as well. She was a caretaker to her core. It's her turn to be taken care of.

Our lives changed in a split second. My mom was healthy, independent, and had no way to predict these events. Currently, she's in a rehabilitation center gaining strength to walk again. After being in bed for a month, sedated, this is not an easy feat. We're not sure how long this will take, but I want to make my mom's recovery as easy as possible. In true Leslie fashion, she is worried about her job and bills and insurance. A lot of you have asked me how you can help me and I haven't had an answer. Well, this is the answer. If my mom has ever made you feel seen, if you have extra to give this holiday season, I humbly ask that you donate it to my mom's recovery. I want her to feel safe to take time to heal and know that she is financially taken care of.

If you know my mom, you know she will hate this. She hates asking for help but she deserves it. And luckily, I love to beg!

Thank you for reading and caring about my mom. I am so grateful that we are almost on the other side.