Zack Lynn's Fight for His Heart

**UPDATE 10/22/2024 - Zack and Katie are home as of this morning and couldn't be more thrilled to be back in their own house. Zack will continue his care while at home and still has a long road ahead but is recovering well.

**UPDATE: Zachary is out of surgery. They described it as complicated, was connected to some arteries, touching his vocal cord but they got it all out. Tumor was about 8 inches by 5 inches, looked like another heart. Will be sent out to pathology with results in 3-5 business days.

Zack is a vibrant, incredibly active, hardworking and fun-loving 28 year old who just a few weeks ago was experiencing what he thought was simple chest pain. Initially diagnosed with acid reflux, Zack's condition took a terrifying turn on October 4th when he rushed himself to the Cayuga emergency room.

After extensive testing, doctors discovered the horrifying truth: Zack's heart was being crushed by fluid buildup and a large mass, the size of a grapefruit, had formed in his chest. He was immediately airlifted to Upstate university hospital in Syracuse NY, where he remains today.

The situation is incredibly serious. Zack underwent emergency surgery to insert a pump to drain the fluid and relieve the pressure on his heart, which is now battling a staph infection. To make matters worse, doctors discovered the mass, a teratoma, had ruptured into his heart sack. This means Zack now faces open-heart surgery to remove the mass, followed by an agonizing wait for pathology results to determine if it is malignant or benign.

This unexpected medical crisis has placed an immense burden on Zack and his loved ones. We are starting this GoFundMe to help alleviate the financial stress so Zack can focus on what matters most: his recovery.

How Your Donation Will Help:

Funds raised will go directly towards:

* Medical Expenses: Covering the costs of hospital bills, surgeries, medications, and ongoing treatments.

* Living Expenses: Helping Zack and Katie with daily living costs while he is unable to work.

* Travel Expenses: Assisting with travel costs to allow family to be by his side in Syracuse.

Zack is a fighter, but he needs our help. Any contribution, big or small, will make a real difference in his fight for his health. Please consider donating and sharing Zack's story with your friends and family.

Thank you for your support and for keeping Zack in your thoughts and prayers.

*Zack is currently working out of state on a project at Cornell University that is due to end in a couple months. He was there when the emergency arose. This is causing additional financial strain due to costs associated with the medical emergency being out of state.