The Story of Cathy Sanford's Big Squishy Heart
Donation protected
The Story of Cathy
Hello Friends – old and new,
I am seeking any help I can find to alleviate some of the financial burden I’ve incurred as a result of a heart transplant. Any monies earned through this fundraiser will go to pay for medical bills, therapy, medications, and at-home-care.
In November 2016, I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) attributed to a virus. Everyone commented on how young I was for such a diagnosis…I was 47 at the time. In February 2017, I received an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). I was also put on a whole host of medications. I found out just how well the ICD worked in October 2017, when I passed out at work mid-stride and received a shock in the process. My mind was eased (dripping sarcasm) when I got to the emergency room and was told by the doctor: today’s technology is amazing – if this had happened several years ago, I’d be having this discussion with you in the morgue!! During the next 18 months, my health continued to deteriorate and I was hospitalized multiple times after being shocked. In February 2019, it was decided that I needed an upgrade to the Cadillac of ICDs that included a pacemaker.
By August of last year, after being hospitalized repeatedly, my cardiologist sent me to the Ochsner Multi-Organ Transplant Institute in New Orleans. Luckily, this institute is only 1.5 hours away from my home in Baton Rouge. My mama took me to my first appointment with the transplant team on August 28th, which ended with me being told I was not actually sick enough yet to warrant further care from them. But, they scheduled me for a right heart catheter the following week just to have baseline numbers for future comparison. I had the procedure on September 4th and was admitted to the hospital immediately upon completion! The surgeon told me the choice was either admit me for a pre-transplant work-up or send me home to die.
On September 9th, we received the news that I had been approved for a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) and the surgery would occur the next day. Surgery went well but there were some complications during recovery. After a lot of time, I was discharged in October. My ICD was still active by necessity and refused to play nice with my LVAD. I was again in and out of the hospital after being shocked. On November 13th, I was back in the hospital and incredibly ill. So sick, in fact, that the transplant team started working me up for an actual transplant. I was moved to ICU and then on December 3rd I was listed. Two weeks later, on December 16th, I received my heart transplant.
I spent another two weeks in the hospital and was then sent to an apartment across the street from Ochsner, because I lived more than 50 miles from the hospital. As of March 4th, I’m still there…hoping to move back to Baton Rouge in the next couple of weeks. I’ve been hospitalized multiple times while trying to get the right medicine cocktail and have been in physical and occupational therapy to regain my strength and learn how to compensate for extreme shakiness in my hands.
I’ve been unable to work since last September. Fortunately, my employer has held my position open for me. Unfortunately, the bills have continued to arrive. I greatly appreciate any amount you can donate. I’m also open to all good wishes and prayers. Those may not pay the bills but they do make me feel better!
I owe significant thanks to my family, friends, and co-workers who have supported me physically, emotionally, and financially. I could not have survived this ordeal without them!
Now, please read on to see my mama’s experience with this life-altering event.
Hello:
I would like to introduce you to a wonderful, fun-loving, intelligent woman named Cathy. Sit back and let me share with you her story.
Cathy’s priorities have always been family, her cats, friends, school, and work. Her career has been a true arc. She started as a dispatcher at the local police department in Valparaiso, Florida, and was going to college at the same time. After graduating from the Police Academy, Cathy was a Police Officer for two years at the same police department.
Cathy was hired to be a Federal Investigator so it was off to Colorado where she traveled all over the middle and lower state and met the most interesting people. Cathy loved the mountains, the crisp air, and all the wildlife. She thought it was the most beautiful place she’d seen. After nine years working and looking for that perfect rock, her company chose to downsize and discontinue her region of work – so what to do?
Cathy was accepted to the LSU Law School where she thrived under some difficult circumstances. In her third year, she worked for the State Inspector General, while also volunteering more than 150 hours to the immigration clinic. Receiving her JD, Cathy then received her MLMS in Library Information Science. Moving to Baton Rouge has been a true blessing in disguise as you will soon realize.
Cathy joined a company that gave her a chance to spread her wings, Amedisys. Delegating, organizing, researching, she experienced commitment and loyalty, all while building a strong relationship with all of her co-workers and executives. This experience has truly been right up her alley.
Three years ago Cathy was cut down like a tree in a forest. Preparing for a business trip, Cathy suddenly realized she couldn’t breathe. Going to the ER, she underwent numerous x-rays, blood work, scans, pokes, and prods. She was given the great news that her lungs were perfectly clear and her blood work was great, and they couldn’t find anything wrong with her…except she had now become a congestive heart failure patient.
Fitted with a life vest, off she went, heading back to work and accepting the news as a challenge that she would overcome. Her family…not so much. Frightening to say the least as her co-workers would soon experience.
Cathy then had the life vest replaced with an ICD. This device was supposed to give all of us – especially Cathy – great hope. And it did for several months until she had an episode at work and the doctors realized her heart wasn’t pumping well enough to allow her fluids to dissipate. Cathy would become overly hydrated, which made her ICD kick her back to life. Once the fluid was diuresed with Lasix, Cathy would then become dehydrated. Such was an ongoing problem that couldn’t be solved with her dying heart. A second ICD/pacemaker was implanted, which seemed to help for a few months, but even it could not keep the heart pumping properly. Cathy’s spirits remained so high but we could see the difficulty she was having breathing. She had no energy and lost interest in the things she used to love and enjoy the most.
When a person is an avid reader and stops mentioning her favorite authors, such as John Stanford, James Lee Burke, or Nancy Atherton, and no longer has the energy to watch her favorite movies, like Star Wars, Mary Poppins, or Oh Brother Where Art Thou, then there is a problem. We no longer talked about her favorite actors and their current activities.
Where did that Cathy go? I can tell you. She became a person so exhausted that just sitting up is a chore, and yet remained a wonderful person coping with the thought of death every day. With every episode she had, it chipped away at all of our souls. But, Cathy’s perseverance is remarkable. Her spirit is as loud as her voice.
Finally, we believed there was hope. Cathy was sent to meet the Heart Transplant Team at Ochsner in New Orleans. After a right heart catheter, the team decided that in order to extend her life, she would need the following:
Open heart surgery with the placement of a Left Ventricular Assist Device (L-VAD). The agreement was that Cathy would have to either live with her caregiver (Susie) or vise-versa. And by the way, you can’t have a cat. At this point in Cathy’s life and after sending her two babies (cats) to live with me in Florida, I am not sure she cared about anything or anyone. She just wanted to live and would do anything they (the doctors) suggested.
After surgery and a three and a half week stay, Cathy seemed to be doing better. But then her breathing began getting worse until the fluid caused the ICD to go off. Back to Ochsner and another eight days in the hospital. Going back and forth was a strain on all of us! Cathy was not doing well at all, but because she had open heart surgery on the 10th of September, that meant she could not have another open heart surgery until December 10th. Cathy went to the hospital on November 13th, 2019 and on November 26th was sent to the surgical ICU.
To keep Cathy alive, hopefully until a heart became available, she was put on Epinephrine and Nitrous. We were told she would not leave ICU while on those medicines and that she needed the meds to survive.
Over the next few days, we caught a glimpse of our "old" Cathy. She began listening to her favorite music, Bon Jovi, Styx, and 70's rock. She would even sing along. To have that one glimpse of how it was made this ordeal seem more bearable.
Cathy received visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The hospital also had therapy dogs stop by. Cathy was especially fond of a black pug named Lucille. Lucille and her humans stopped in multiple times to raise Cathy's spirits.
Cathy, her family, friends, all received an early Christmas miracle: Cathy received a good heart and it was put in her on December 16, 2019. A new birth, many prayers answered, and many thanks given!
Cathy had the most wonderful nursing staff, which also includes the techs, cleaning crew, and food personnel. The nurses gave Cathy a heart party, signed a banner that hung above the OR door with singing and chanting all the way to her operating door. What an awesome gesture for a person who had to be scared to death. Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough, but thank you to all nurses on the 6th floor, on every shift!
Cathy had to relocate to New Orleans and her caregiver, Susie, has to be with her 24-7. No breaks at all.
Cathy lives across the street from the hospital where she will remain up to six months or until the doctors release her.
I want you to know that therapy is difficult for her and the 29 pills she takes daily have her swollen and shaking. Walking is a chore; however, she is alive and is gaining strength with each passing day!
Once Cathy is able to leave New Orleans, she will have to relocate again. Her medical bills will be out-of-sight; there is no telling what her medication will cost a month. Paying all her expenses over the past three years has been difficult, and the last four months impossible. With no sign of organ rejection, however , Cathy has a new beginning.
Hello Friends – old and new,
I am seeking any help I can find to alleviate some of the financial burden I’ve incurred as a result of a heart transplant. Any monies earned through this fundraiser will go to pay for medical bills, therapy, medications, and at-home-care.
In November 2016, I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) attributed to a virus. Everyone commented on how young I was for such a diagnosis…I was 47 at the time. In February 2017, I received an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). I was also put on a whole host of medications. I found out just how well the ICD worked in October 2017, when I passed out at work mid-stride and received a shock in the process. My mind was eased (dripping sarcasm) when I got to the emergency room and was told by the doctor: today’s technology is amazing – if this had happened several years ago, I’d be having this discussion with you in the morgue!! During the next 18 months, my health continued to deteriorate and I was hospitalized multiple times after being shocked. In February 2019, it was decided that I needed an upgrade to the Cadillac of ICDs that included a pacemaker.
By August of last year, after being hospitalized repeatedly, my cardiologist sent me to the Ochsner Multi-Organ Transplant Institute in New Orleans. Luckily, this institute is only 1.5 hours away from my home in Baton Rouge. My mama took me to my first appointment with the transplant team on August 28th, which ended with me being told I was not actually sick enough yet to warrant further care from them. But, they scheduled me for a right heart catheter the following week just to have baseline numbers for future comparison. I had the procedure on September 4th and was admitted to the hospital immediately upon completion! The surgeon told me the choice was either admit me for a pre-transplant work-up or send me home to die.
On September 9th, we received the news that I had been approved for a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) and the surgery would occur the next day. Surgery went well but there were some complications during recovery. After a lot of time, I was discharged in October. My ICD was still active by necessity and refused to play nice with my LVAD. I was again in and out of the hospital after being shocked. On November 13th, I was back in the hospital and incredibly ill. So sick, in fact, that the transplant team started working me up for an actual transplant. I was moved to ICU and then on December 3rd I was listed. Two weeks later, on December 16th, I received my heart transplant.
I spent another two weeks in the hospital and was then sent to an apartment across the street from Ochsner, because I lived more than 50 miles from the hospital. As of March 4th, I’m still there…hoping to move back to Baton Rouge in the next couple of weeks. I’ve been hospitalized multiple times while trying to get the right medicine cocktail and have been in physical and occupational therapy to regain my strength and learn how to compensate for extreme shakiness in my hands.
I’ve been unable to work since last September. Fortunately, my employer has held my position open for me. Unfortunately, the bills have continued to arrive. I greatly appreciate any amount you can donate. I’m also open to all good wishes and prayers. Those may not pay the bills but they do make me feel better!
I owe significant thanks to my family, friends, and co-workers who have supported me physically, emotionally, and financially. I could not have survived this ordeal without them!
Now, please read on to see my mama’s experience with this life-altering event.
Hello:
I would like to introduce you to a wonderful, fun-loving, intelligent woman named Cathy. Sit back and let me share with you her story.
Cathy’s priorities have always been family, her cats, friends, school, and work. Her career has been a true arc. She started as a dispatcher at the local police department in Valparaiso, Florida, and was going to college at the same time. After graduating from the Police Academy, Cathy was a Police Officer for two years at the same police department.
Cathy was hired to be a Federal Investigator so it was off to Colorado where she traveled all over the middle and lower state and met the most interesting people. Cathy loved the mountains, the crisp air, and all the wildlife. She thought it was the most beautiful place she’d seen. After nine years working and looking for that perfect rock, her company chose to downsize and discontinue her region of work – so what to do?
Cathy was accepted to the LSU Law School where she thrived under some difficult circumstances. In her third year, she worked for the State Inspector General, while also volunteering more than 150 hours to the immigration clinic. Receiving her JD, Cathy then received her MLMS in Library Information Science. Moving to Baton Rouge has been a true blessing in disguise as you will soon realize.
Cathy joined a company that gave her a chance to spread her wings, Amedisys. Delegating, organizing, researching, she experienced commitment and loyalty, all while building a strong relationship with all of her co-workers and executives. This experience has truly been right up her alley.
Three years ago Cathy was cut down like a tree in a forest. Preparing for a business trip, Cathy suddenly realized she couldn’t breathe. Going to the ER, she underwent numerous x-rays, blood work, scans, pokes, and prods. She was given the great news that her lungs were perfectly clear and her blood work was great, and they couldn’t find anything wrong with her…except she had now become a congestive heart failure patient.
Fitted with a life vest, off she went, heading back to work and accepting the news as a challenge that she would overcome. Her family…not so much. Frightening to say the least as her co-workers would soon experience.
Cathy then had the life vest replaced with an ICD. This device was supposed to give all of us – especially Cathy – great hope. And it did for several months until she had an episode at work and the doctors realized her heart wasn’t pumping well enough to allow her fluids to dissipate. Cathy would become overly hydrated, which made her ICD kick her back to life. Once the fluid was diuresed with Lasix, Cathy would then become dehydrated. Such was an ongoing problem that couldn’t be solved with her dying heart. A second ICD/pacemaker was implanted, which seemed to help for a few months, but even it could not keep the heart pumping properly. Cathy’s spirits remained so high but we could see the difficulty she was having breathing. She had no energy and lost interest in the things she used to love and enjoy the most.
When a person is an avid reader and stops mentioning her favorite authors, such as John Stanford, James Lee Burke, or Nancy Atherton, and no longer has the energy to watch her favorite movies, like Star Wars, Mary Poppins, or Oh Brother Where Art Thou, then there is a problem. We no longer talked about her favorite actors and their current activities.
Where did that Cathy go? I can tell you. She became a person so exhausted that just sitting up is a chore, and yet remained a wonderful person coping with the thought of death every day. With every episode she had, it chipped away at all of our souls. But, Cathy’s perseverance is remarkable. Her spirit is as loud as her voice.
Finally, we believed there was hope. Cathy was sent to meet the Heart Transplant Team at Ochsner in New Orleans. After a right heart catheter, the team decided that in order to extend her life, she would need the following:
Open heart surgery with the placement of a Left Ventricular Assist Device (L-VAD). The agreement was that Cathy would have to either live with her caregiver (Susie) or vise-versa. And by the way, you can’t have a cat. At this point in Cathy’s life and after sending her two babies (cats) to live with me in Florida, I am not sure she cared about anything or anyone. She just wanted to live and would do anything they (the doctors) suggested.
After surgery and a three and a half week stay, Cathy seemed to be doing better. But then her breathing began getting worse until the fluid caused the ICD to go off. Back to Ochsner and another eight days in the hospital. Going back and forth was a strain on all of us! Cathy was not doing well at all, but because she had open heart surgery on the 10th of September, that meant she could not have another open heart surgery until December 10th. Cathy went to the hospital on November 13th, 2019 and on November 26th was sent to the surgical ICU.
To keep Cathy alive, hopefully until a heart became available, she was put on Epinephrine and Nitrous. We were told she would not leave ICU while on those medicines and that she needed the meds to survive.
Over the next few days, we caught a glimpse of our "old" Cathy. She began listening to her favorite music, Bon Jovi, Styx, and 70's rock. She would even sing along. To have that one glimpse of how it was made this ordeal seem more bearable.
Cathy received visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The hospital also had therapy dogs stop by. Cathy was especially fond of a black pug named Lucille. Lucille and her humans stopped in multiple times to raise Cathy's spirits.
Cathy, her family, friends, all received an early Christmas miracle: Cathy received a good heart and it was put in her on December 16, 2019. A new birth, many prayers answered, and many thanks given!
Cathy had the most wonderful nursing staff, which also includes the techs, cleaning crew, and food personnel. The nurses gave Cathy a heart party, signed a banner that hung above the OR door with singing and chanting all the way to her operating door. What an awesome gesture for a person who had to be scared to death. Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough, but thank you to all nurses on the 6th floor, on every shift!
Cathy had to relocate to New Orleans and her caregiver, Susie, has to be with her 24-7. No breaks at all.
Cathy lives across the street from the hospital where she will remain up to six months or until the doctors release her.
I want you to know that therapy is difficult for her and the 29 pills she takes daily have her swollen and shaking. Walking is a chore; however, she is alive and is gaining strength with each passing day!
Once Cathy is able to leave New Orleans, she will have to relocate again. Her medical bills will be out-of-sight; there is no telling what her medication will cost a month. Paying all her expenses over the past three years has been difficult, and the last four months impossible. With no sign of organ rejection, however , Cathy has a new beginning.
Organizer
Deidre Sonni Rief
Organizer
Baton Rouge, LA
