Young mom of 2 undergoing heart transplant
Donation protected
Becky Sieg is a 35 year old mother of two, a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, best friend, and self-employed photographer from Biglerville, Pennsylvania. From the outside looking in, it’s easy to see a happy go lucky, free spirit, who’s ready to take on whatever the world throws her way. What you don’t see is that Becky has been privately struggling with ARVD (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia) for the past 13 years. ARVD is a genetic, progressive heart condition in which the muscle of the right ventricle is replaced by fat and fibrosis, which causes abnormal heart rhythms. ARVD is estimated to affect one in 5,000 people and accounts for up to one fifth of sudden cardiac death in people under 35 years of age. (To learn more about ARVD, click here.)
Becky’s journey has been arduous to say the least. She tries her best to cover up the difficult aspects, and the daily toll the disease takes on her both physically and emotionally. She doesn’t like for people to think of her as, “the girl with the sick heart, but rather the girl with the big heart,” and because of this she has essentially become a pro at hiding her symptoms, until recently...
In March 2018, things took an unexpected turn. Becky found out that she is in class 3, stage C of Heart Failure, which means a heart transplant is happening. Since March, she has been on a delicate balance of changing meds, adding meds, doubling and tripling meds, keeping her other organs as healthy as possible, and frequently visiting Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH).
When Becky first learned that she was going to need a transplant in the near future, she shared with her friends and family, “I want to continue to take photos because that feeds my soul and I want to keep being Becky. I literally won’t stop until I am forced by my body to so.” In February 2019, Becky’s body has forced her to temporarily give up this thing that feeds her soul ---and she recently has had to cancel all of her upcoming scheduled photography sessions. She can no longer do the work she is most passionate about, at least not with her current heart.
The transplant team at JHH has helped Becky stay “stable in heart failure” as long they could; however, in early 2019, they were forced to begin the heart transplant evaluation. In late February 2019, Becky met with her transplant team, and learned that not only is a transplant necessary for her future, it’s happening now.
When Becky first found out she was going to need a transplant, she wrote, “The odds are against me, but I have a can do attitude, a cheerful disposition and people there supporting me and cheering for me to get over that mountain, and honestly I couldn’t do it without a little help from my friends.”
Right now, Becky and her family need her friends more than ever. If you know Becky, you know she is one of the strongest people you will ever meet. Being away from her children and family might be even harder for her to endure than the heart transplant itself. Your donation will help ease the financial burden this process has placed on her and her family. Please take a moment to help Becky, “the girl with the big heart”.
Becky’s journey has been arduous to say the least. She tries her best to cover up the difficult aspects, and the daily toll the disease takes on her both physically and emotionally. She doesn’t like for people to think of her as, “the girl with the sick heart, but rather the girl with the big heart,” and because of this she has essentially become a pro at hiding her symptoms, until recently...
In March 2018, things took an unexpected turn. Becky found out that she is in class 3, stage C of Heart Failure, which means a heart transplant is happening. Since March, she has been on a delicate balance of changing meds, adding meds, doubling and tripling meds, keeping her other organs as healthy as possible, and frequently visiting Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH).
When Becky first learned that she was going to need a transplant in the near future, she shared with her friends and family, “I want to continue to take photos because that feeds my soul and I want to keep being Becky. I literally won’t stop until I am forced by my body to so.” In February 2019, Becky’s body has forced her to temporarily give up this thing that feeds her soul ---and she recently has had to cancel all of her upcoming scheduled photography sessions. She can no longer do the work she is most passionate about, at least not with her current heart.
The transplant team at JHH has helped Becky stay “stable in heart failure” as long they could; however, in early 2019, they were forced to begin the heart transplant evaluation. In late February 2019, Becky met with her transplant team, and learned that not only is a transplant necessary for her future, it’s happening now.
When Becky first found out she was going to need a transplant, she wrote, “The odds are against me, but I have a can do attitude, a cheerful disposition and people there supporting me and cheering for me to get over that mountain, and honestly I couldn’t do it without a little help from my friends.”
Right now, Becky and her family need her friends more than ever. If you know Becky, you know she is one of the strongest people you will ever meet. Being away from her children and family might be even harder for her to endure than the heart transplant itself. Your donation will help ease the financial burden this process has placed on her and her family. Please take a moment to help Becky, “the girl with the big heart”.
Fundraising team: Team Becky (2)
Kelly Dries
Organizer
Raised $3,685 from 48 donations
Biglerville, PA
Adam Sieg
Beneficiary
Kerry Martin
Team member
Raised $300 from 3 donations
This team raised $15,025 from 162 other donations.
