Support Tonya's Journey to a New Heart

Hello, my name is Tonya and I am wanting to change my life and my family's future. I am currently the sole guardian for my two grandchildren, Jersey & Randall, and am waiting on a heart transplant from Vanderbilt. I am currently living with a life support device, a implant in the left side of my heart keeping me alive called a left ventricular assist device a (L-vad) it is a pump that is delivering the blood flow through my heart to all my organs because my heart couldn't pump the blood through it was throwing it back into my lungs , I spent almost 4 months in Nashville at Tri Star Centennial Heart in CCU and CVICU fighting to live on life support several times until I had open heart surgery getting the pump implant in the left side of my heart .We currently live in Kingsport, TN, and I need to be closer to TriStar Centennial & Vanderbilt. My cardiologist is advising me to move closer so that I can be within 60 miles from the hospital,for safety reasons because if something happens to the pump or any other emergency time would be one of the key factors in saving my life and being 6 hours away doesn't give me a good chance of making it to the hospital in time because I would have to be transported to Nashville, so being within 60 miles of the hospital raises my chances of surviving if something happens. Also my cardiologist is going to help me with possible getting a position at the hospital to work a couple days a week and to volunteer to help mentor others who are going through what I am currently living. Any donation would be very beneficial even. $1,$5,$10 would be very appreciated to get me closer to my goal to help me and my grandchildren get moved to Nashville for my medical needs.

In September 2023, while playing with Randall, I started having strong chest pains. I went to our local hospital and then was air transported to TriStar Centennial where they diagnosed me with advanced stage heart failure. In October 2023, I went under surgery to have an L-VAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) implanted so that I could live and wait for a new heart. At my last inpatient stay, it was discovered that I have fluid surrounding the right side of my heart and have been keeping pneumonia in my right lung.

My family and I have been navigating life with my condition and the struggles of my medical team being 5 hours away. In April of 2025, I became very sick and was inpatient at our local hospital. They wanted to transfer me to TriStar, but I had to delay care for 2 months due to not having funds for the 6-hour trip and for someone to assist with my grandchildren.

My cardiologist, Dr. McRae, and his staff have become like family to me. They have helped and advocated for me since the beginning. They are now offering me a position in the hospital system to help fund a move to Nashville.