My name is Amy-Ranee and I’m 46 years old. I’m a mother and grandmother with another grandson on the way.

Until a few months ago, I had no idea I was living with rare and severe congenital heart defects. My life changed almost overnight, and now I’m fighting not only for my health but for access to the surgery that could save my life.

A Newly Discovered, Life-Threatening Condition

These defects were only discovered recently. My doctors believe the only reason I made it this far in life without knowing was because of something called cor triatriatum sinister, which is an abnormal membrane in the left atrium that may have helped my body compensate for decades. They now believe that membrane ruptured for some unknown reason, triggering the sudden onset of symptoms and revealing the true severity of the underlying defects.

I was diagnosed with a large atrial septal defect and a PFO with a massive 25mm tunnel, both of which are extremely difficult to repair.

How It All Started:

My symptoms began suddenly at the end of August, shortly after returning from a trip. I had been dealing with worsening respiratory illnesses over the past few years (something my doctors have told me is 100% related to these defects), but everything escalated dramatically after that infection in August.

It started with severe palpitations, the kind that I feel in my chest and throat, something I had never experienced before. A 7-day heart monitor was ordered, and each test that followed led to more urgent and invasive testing. Finally, at the end of October, a TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram) revealed the massive defects that had been silently affecting my heart for years.

Since then, everything has gone downhill. My symptoms: chest pain and pressure, shortness of breath, fatigue, and arrhythmias have continued to worsen. My heart is under increasing stress, and without surgical repair, I am at risk for right-sided heart failure, pulmonary hypertension (which is irreversible), and even a catastrophic or fatal stroke.

A Failed Procedure and a Cancelled Surgery

A transcatheter closure was attempted on December 5th using two different large Gore ASD devices (44mm and 37mm), but the procedure failed. The defects are in a difficult position. My heart became irritated, I became hypotensive and hemodynamically unstable, and the team had to abort.

My structural heart physician then referred me to a cardiothoracic surgeon, who saw me and then scheduled me for robotic surgical repair with the Da Vinci robot on December 26th. The prior authorization to my insurance was immediately submitted on December 10th.

My insurance company waited until Christmas Eve, just hours before the holiday, to finally process the PA and deny it. Because of this last-minute denial, my surgery was cancelled and has not been rescheduled. We are now stuck in the appeals process while my condition worsens.

Financial Crisis on Top of a Medical Emergency:

I met my deductible and out-of-pocket maximum in late October, but I still owe about $3,000 from this year. On January 1st, everything resets, meaning I will need at least another $12,000 just to access the surgery I already should have had.

I am on short-term disability from work, receiving only 60% of my normal income, and the insurance delay is burning through the limited time I have. Once that runs out, I don’t know what will happen with my job and career.

Family Hardship

My partner, Justin, is also going through a devastating time. His mother has stage 4 pancreatic cancer and is now in hospice. He has taken over her finances and is responsible for her room and board while waiting for POA paperwork to process. He cannot help me financially, no matter how much he wants to.

Why I’m Asking for Help

I am raising funds to cover:

- Remaining 2024 medical bills

- My 2025 deductible and out-of-pocket costs

- Living expenses while on reduced income

- Potential travel costs if I am forced to seek treatment overseas should insurance deny the appeal again

- Potential legal fees if I need to pursue a suit against my insurance company.

Every day of delay puts my heart under more strain. I am terrified of what could happen if this continues.

Your Support Means Everything

I will gladly share receipts and updates so you can see exactly where your generosity is going.

If at the end of this, I receive more than I need, every single excess dollar will be donated to someone else facing medical hardship, because that is how we take care of others during times like this.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for supporting me during the most overwhelming and frightening time of my life. ♥️