Nearly 11 years ago, I received a heart transplant after chemotherapy caused severe damage to my heart. Before that, I survived for 5.5 years with a mechanical heart pump.

Today, my body is showing signs of rejecting my transplanted heart. I have high levels of anti-donor antibodies, and two treatments have already been tried with minimal success.

My medical team has recommended a third treatment that could help stop the rejection (perhaps permanently) — but my insurance has denied it, claiming “other available options,” even though those options have already failed.

Without insurance, the cost of this medication is nearly $50,000.

We are continuing to fight the denial from our insurance but time is not on our side. We were supposed to start treatment in October, and every day that goes by risks further irreversible damage to the transplanted heart.

We are asking for help so I can continue fighting — not just for myself, but for my family and the life we are trying to hold onto together.