Team Jessica

We all know Jessica Marx in so many different capacities. Whether it's from her years in Homer, her college years, or her extensive network of family and friends that literally spans the globe, she has always been one who can bridge the gaps and bring people together. I'm sure we can all say that anyone who knows Jessica knows that she is an extremely generous person and a friend to everyone she meets. To be in her presence is to feel joy, friendship, and acceptance.

On May 19th, 2021, Jessica was medivacked to Anchorage due to life-threatening heart rhythms. She was admitted to the Alaska Heart Institute and diagnosed with Tachycardia. She had a pacemaker and defibrillator installed in hopes of helping to manage her heart rhythms. Over the year, she underwent four ablation procedures to try and improve her condition. After many complications and uncessesful surgeries, it was determined she would need open heart surgery in her future.

During her most recent surgery, it was determined that the hole was too large for their largest plug to work, and the procedure was unsuccessful. That same week, Jessica became increasingly uncomfortable, unable to eat or sleep and having difficulty breathing. By Friday, she was admitted to the Homer ER. Due to the increased size of the hole in her heart, her body was not getting the oxygen it needed, and her liver and kidneys were shutting down. She was medivacked to Anchorage to be stabilized for a life flight to Portland, OR.

On 8/27/2022 at St. Vincent hospital in Portland, OR, she underwent surgery to put an impella pump in her heart. This device is helping her heart pump blood and keep her blood pressure up, giving her organs, specifically her kidneys, a chance to improve so that the surgeons can perform the open-heart surgery needed to fix the VSD. Initially, she was feeling better after this procedure, but by Sunday evening, the pump was not staying positioned as required, and the decision was made to perform the surgery earlier than planned.

Today, August 29th, at 1:00 pm, Jessica will undergo open heart surgery to try and repair the VSD. This procedure could be a nine-hour of surgery. The surgeon has said the hole is complex; however, he believes he can repair it. If all goes well, Jessica could see up to 2 weeks in recovery at the hospital and another 9-12 weeks at home.

This is where all of us come in. Jessica will need all the help her expansive team of friends and family can give her. She will incur costs that add up quickly between the unknown and existing expenses. Jess has always been a resourceful person, independent, and one to take care of her needs and never ask for help, even during times she could use it. However, now is a time she could use someone to lean on. She doesn’t have to do this one alone.

We’ve already had so many asking how they can help, and here is our answer. Please share and spread the word. Let’s show Jess we have her back right now. Her focus needs to be on rest and recovery, not the bills that will start racking up. We can help with that!

We will keep everyone updated as we get news after today’s surgery. Please keep Jessica in your thoughts and summon all your positive energy that this procedure goes well today and that we will get to see Jessica up and smiling again soon.