Nora's Heart Transplant & expenses

My name is Nora Niles. I am a 48yr old single mother of 3 great kids. I presented at the emergency room on 8-11-2015 with a heart attack, I have not left the hospitals since. I have been transferred to 5 different hospitals, each one hoping the next hospital with its specialities will understand what is wrong with me.  I am currently at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Scotsdale AZ.  Going thru extensive testing and awaiting a heart transplant, that is the only solution to keep me alive.

A brief history,  I had NO heart issues before 8-11-2015, I have worked incredibly hard with my business, working with scaffolding 20ft up in the air, painting 1000's of square feet of faux finishes working 20 hour days unending. Providing  Art lessons & art therapy for all ages, I did face painting and caricature drawings at all types of parties, events. Volunteering many hours to Children's Hospitals for their events, Many events with the National Guard, Army and other divisions of military to facepaint at  their celebrations for the military and their familys (Christmas in July, Christmas clebrations, USO volunteer events, to name a few)

I have a small horse property type home, I am the one that did all the upkeep, mowing, weedeating, a 1700 sq ft garden, taking care of the chickens, steer, dogs etc. Not to mention all the remodel we did hands on when we got the property, my kids and I.

I have never been a slacker, always worked incredibliy hard, donated every chance I can, helped everyone whether I knew them or not.  I've never slowed down for anything, all this while trying to be the best most involved mom I could be.

Even when I underwent an emergency surgery in 2013 for ruptured intestines, that left me in bad shape and with an ileostomy, after many months of slow recovery, I made it back to working some, and I started a medical donation group- Ostomy Angel's Pantry, to help others like myself all across the USA who have no insurance, little income and have to provide the extremely expensive medial supplies to deal with ostomies.  People donate supplies to me, I then ship out, completely free of charge the supplies to anyone who needs them,

Now, I am facing, and my family, the most incredibly serious situation I could ever possibly imagine. I've gone from being 100% viable, strong, alive, capable, to needing 24hr a day IV medication to keep from dying, Im in a hospital bed with very limited acivity- bathroom trips and a few walks around the nurses station.

Because I have owned my own busines, there is no income at all now. To say we are struggling is an understatement, just the stress alone is hurting my kids and all family.    I could be on the transplant list for minimum of 7-11 months. After transplant, it will require 3 days a week traveling to the hospital for 7-9 hrs a day for testing and care. For many weeks after surgery I will require 24 hr care. Not to mention all the medications, travel expenses, and day to day expenses.

These are some of the reasons I felt it necessary to reach out and start a GoFunMe account.  While I hate to ask for help, (I am always the one giving the help, not asking.)  I truely need some assistance.  Any amount  would be a blessing and help my family out while we try and cope, manage, get thru and survive all this.

Thru all the emotional support from family, friends and strangers on Facebook , and prayers from untold how many folks, I am not worried that I will get thru this, and make it not a waste to give me a heart to continue all that I do, and I am sure even more.

In addition to this campaign, I will be displaying several of my custom canvas art paintings on my facebook page for sale if anyone would like to purchase one. Many styles, sizes to choose from.  Murals by Nora

Thank you for reading this, and for any assistance, monetarily or emoationally.  If you would like to contact me, feel free to email me [email redacted]