Tiffany needs life-saving heart transplant

     Tiffany and Mike Dunn live in southern Maine with their beautiful two-year-old daughter, Isla. It was during her pregnancy that Tiffany and Mike were given the crushing news that Tiffany’s heart was failing. At 34 weeks into her pregnancy, Tiffany suddenly began to experience severe shortness of breath and increased blood pressure. She was admitted to the hospital, and after a battery of tests, doctors determined that an emergency caesarean section was needed to ensure the health of mother and baby because of the seriousness of Tiffany’s condition. Following the c-section, their daughter Isla was born and had to be admitted to the NICU for several weeks. Thankfully, she made a full recovery. However, Tiffany's heart condition continued to decline after the birth. In May of 2019, Tiffany spent her first Mother’s Day being prepped for open-heart surgery to implant an automatic heart pump (LVAD), to assist her heart’s function. The surgery was successful, but Tiffany was immediately placed on long-term disability, and has not been able to work since. She and the family have managed to face the various challenges that have come with Tiffany’s diagnosis and open heart surgery, including frequent doctor’s appointments and hospitilizations that have become routine for them. One bright spot in all of this is that last year, Tiffany was blessed to earn a spot on the heart transplant list because of the seriousness of her condition. Although she can no longer work, Tiffany is a dedicated student at the University of Southern Maine School of Social Work. Because of the challenges that the family has had to face and overcome, Tiffany is inspired to use social work to be of service to other families dealing with challenging circumstances.

     Since the surgery in 2019 to implant the heart pump, Tiffany has been living life attached to the battery-powered device 24/7, and has had to undergo many additional surgeries and medical procedures.  To complicate things even further, Tiffany developed an infection shortly after the device was implanted and has been dealing with chronic pain for several months. As the infection is attached to the heart pump, the need for a heart transplant has become even more urgent.  The heart transplant would truly be life-saving,  but would also mean that Tiffany could begin to enjoy a life free of cords, batteries, and the painful persistent infection. On March 12, 2021, after nearly two years with the LVAD, Tiffany received an encouraging call that a donor heart had become available and that transplant was imminent. Mike and Tiffany rushed down to Tufts Medical Center in Boston and got Tiffany checked in for tests and surgery prep. Later that evening, they received devastating news that cancerous lesions had been discovered within the donor and as a result, the donor heart was no longer deemed viable for transplant. This false start was extremely disappointing and heart breaking for Tiffany, Mike and their entire support system. Although they are grateful that a defective heart was not implanted, it was still very challenging to have their hopes dashed so significantly. 
 
    Tiffany is a funny, creative, and caring wife, mother, and friend. She remains optimistic and positive despite the tough circumstances she has been confronted with. Throughout Tiffany's time with heart problems, the family has had to face the challenges of mounting expenses that have arisen because of treatment for Tiffany’s condition, plus, the anticipated additional expenses related to transplant.  Since the operation will be performed out of state, there will be costs for travel and lodging in addition to medical bills and medication costs. As Tiffany’s caregiver, Mike will need to be at home for the initial months following the transplant, which will reduce the family’s income drastically. All funds collected will be used to support the family with expenses in these specific areas. Please consider contributing to ease the burden of their expenses; any amount will be helpful. They also appreciate all of the emotional support, prayers and well wishes they continue to receive from their wonderful friends, family and coworkers. Thank you for sharing their story and keeping this young family in your thoughts. Despite the adversity they face, the Dunn family feels very blessed.