Zach’s Heart Surgery & Recovery Fund
Donation protected
As many of you know, successful treatment for cancer 20 years ago has taken its toll, and Zach is currently awaiting a heart transplant.
After visiting this weekend, I wanted to create this page for Zach and his family because I know there are so many people who love & care about them and want to help, but aren’t sure how to best do so. With Zach in the hospital for the foreseeable future, and Kim right by his side as his own personal nurse (as he says), I’m hoping this fund will allow them to worry a little less about the financial burden of heart surgery and taking extended time off work, and be able to fully focus on recovery and healing.
If you have the means to donate, any amount would be so graciously appreciated. If you aren’t able to contribute financially, please consider sharing a link to this page and continue praying for Zach’s health and for a new heart to come his way soon!
Kim will also have access to this page and can use it as a way to keep everyone updated from one spot. Below is Kim’s most recent update from Thursday Feb. 13th:
❤️ Zach’s journey to a heart transplant has been nothing short of eventful. After 5 days of being listed on the heart transplant list he was matched late Monday night. I might have danced like a fool with our night nurse and had the most hopeful feeling I’ve ever felt in my whole life. Early Tuesday morning he spiked what we thought was a fluke fever for about an hour. (Since then he has been afebrile.)This justifiably led our team to do some investigating and ultimately had to pass on the offer of the match. Zach and I were devastated beyond belief. After testing to rule out some source of infection, he swabbed positive for Influenza A. What a roller coaster.
Then to top things off, early Wednesday morning Zach’s balloon pump ruptured. The CTS team speedily got him taken care in the CVOR at 2am. Needless to say emotions were high. My dear Dad drove up to KU and kept me company while I anxiously waited for the surgeon to remove the balloon pump and reassure me that everything was ok. Luckily all went well.
In sum, we have taken a few steps back but are holding steady currently. Once Zach completes the 5 day course of Tamiflu, we have been lead to believe he will be active again on the transplant list, give or take his symptoms. Please continue to keep Zach and his medical team in your daily thoughts/prayers. Those of you that know Zach well, know nothing comes easy to him and unfortunately he tends to have bad luck.
We both have been overwhelmed by the support in which we have received in so many ways from friends/family/coworkers from near and far. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the text messages, phone calls, gift cards, hugs, coffee, play dates for my dear Nora, meals, visits, etc. These gestures remind us that we aren’t in this alone. It takes a village and I’m not about to pretend that I’ve got this on my own. My hubby’s time will come and the perfect match awaits him, just send us patience and understanding as the process continues. Being away from Nora and Ben is rough on us both but one day they will understand. Kids are resilient I’ve been told and we are holding onto that and the fact that our siblings and parents are giving them all the daily love and care that we can’t day in and day out. Did I mention, it takes a village? ❤️
After visiting this weekend, I wanted to create this page for Zach and his family because I know there are so many people who love & care about them and want to help, but aren’t sure how to best do so. With Zach in the hospital for the foreseeable future, and Kim right by his side as his own personal nurse (as he says), I’m hoping this fund will allow them to worry a little less about the financial burden of heart surgery and taking extended time off work, and be able to fully focus on recovery and healing.
If you have the means to donate, any amount would be so graciously appreciated. If you aren’t able to contribute financially, please consider sharing a link to this page and continue praying for Zach’s health and for a new heart to come his way soon!
Kim will also have access to this page and can use it as a way to keep everyone updated from one spot. Below is Kim’s most recent update from Thursday Feb. 13th:
❤️ Zach’s journey to a heart transplant has been nothing short of eventful. After 5 days of being listed on the heart transplant list he was matched late Monday night. I might have danced like a fool with our night nurse and had the most hopeful feeling I’ve ever felt in my whole life. Early Tuesday morning he spiked what we thought was a fluke fever for about an hour. (Since then he has been afebrile.)This justifiably led our team to do some investigating and ultimately had to pass on the offer of the match. Zach and I were devastated beyond belief. After testing to rule out some source of infection, he swabbed positive for Influenza A. What a roller coaster.
Then to top things off, early Wednesday morning Zach’s balloon pump ruptured. The CTS team speedily got him taken care in the CVOR at 2am. Needless to say emotions were high. My dear Dad drove up to KU and kept me company while I anxiously waited for the surgeon to remove the balloon pump and reassure me that everything was ok. Luckily all went well.
In sum, we have taken a few steps back but are holding steady currently. Once Zach completes the 5 day course of Tamiflu, we have been lead to believe he will be active again on the transplant list, give or take his symptoms. Please continue to keep Zach and his medical team in your daily thoughts/prayers. Those of you that know Zach well, know nothing comes easy to him and unfortunately he tends to have bad luck.
We both have been overwhelmed by the support in which we have received in so many ways from friends/family/coworkers from near and far. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the text messages, phone calls, gift cards, hugs, coffee, play dates for my dear Nora, meals, visits, etc. These gestures remind us that we aren’t in this alone. It takes a village and I’m not about to pretend that I’ve got this on my own. My hubby’s time will come and the perfect match awaits him, just send us patience and understanding as the process continues. Being away from Nora and Ben is rough on us both but one day they will understand. Kids are resilient I’ve been told and we are holding onto that and the fact that our siblings and parents are giving them all the daily love and care that we can’t day in and day out. Did I mention, it takes a village? ❤️
Organizer and beneficiary
Sarah Ulrich
Organizer
Lincoln, NE
Kim Tyler
Beneficiary
