I am 55 years old and have been married to Jenn for two decades. I’m the proud father of three children: Ricci (15), Noah (13), and Helen (11). In the spring of 2025, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation after my Apple Watch alerted me to an irregular heart rhythm. After further tests, my doctors discovered I have an aortic aneurysm, which may be related to a defect in my bicuspid valve. We are now conducting early screenings for our children as well.

In December, I met with a thoracic surgeon who confirmed the diagnosis. The aneurysm requires surgery to repair the damaged part of my aortic valve, and the procedure is scheduled for late June. While I am considered low-risk, the anxiety and nervousness about this major surgery are very real. The operation is expected to take 6-8 hours, followed by a hospital stay of at least 5 days and a recovery period at home of 10 or more weeks. I anticipate being out of work for about 12 weeks.

During this time, we may face significant challenges covering medical bills and other expenses. My wife, a birth doula, has limited her client work to be present for me and our children during my recovery, which adds to our financial stress. We have always managed on our own, but this unexpected event could have a major impact on our lives and finances. To add to our worries, our son Noah now needs surgery to have his appendix removed, increasing our financial burden even further.

I kindly request your kindness and support during my recovery period. If you could contribute any amount to help ease the financial burden we’ll be facing, I would be deeply grateful.