Jake Morrill

When I was a baby I was diagnosed with a bicuspid Aortic Valve. A BAV is the Aortic valve that has two leaflets instead of three and can cause complications where your body doesn't get enough blood flow or there isn't enough blood removed from the left ventricle. My parents and doctors have been keeping an eye on this since being a baby. I was told I would need surgery before I turned 8. Then they said not till I was about 15. Then they said 18, then 21, and then at 21 I was told not till I was in my late 40s-50s. 

Well at 25, I started having some bad symptoms. I was constantly tired and exhausted and started to lose all my energy to do daily tasks. One day after working I was driving home and got light headed and almost passed out. I went to the emergency room and I was told that my valve was at severe Regurgitation and they needed to go in and replace it right away. The only way to replace it would be through open heart surgery.  I opted in for the surgery and on August 31, 2018 at Desert Springs Hospital I went in for the surgery with Dr Martin performing it.

Prior to going in I was in the pre op surgery area and a doctor came in and gave me some Versed. After that the next thing I remember is waking up with a tube down my throat and feeling like someone mutilated my chest (which they kinda did lol). I was in the ICU for 3 days and IMC for 2. My recovery has been going great! Except for a few things. About a week later I broke out with a high fever and heart rate and I had a bad post op infection which we couldn't come to the conclusion of where it was located. I spent another 3days in IMC and was sent home saying everything was great. 
About another week later I got horrible side pains and super short of breath. I made an appoint with the cardiologist and he reassured me it was no big deal and its just post OP pain. About a week later I still have the pain except it's getting way worse so I go into the ER and after tests and everything I was diagnosed with Plural effusion and an infection in my mediastinum. I will have to undergo another minor surgery with a chest tube to drain whatever fluid is in my chest and hopefully will be a lot better after that.\

I created this gofundme for a simple reason.. I can't go back to work till 12/3/18 and These medical bills are killing me and I have good insurance but anything extra would help. A little bit goes along way. This has definitely been a super hardship in my life and I wouldn't wish this upon anyone and I have way more sympathy and empathy for my patients at work. I currently work as an ER Tech at Valley hospital. I love being part of the first responders team and love giving back to my community. I have been a first responder for 6 years now and I am advancing my degree to nursing school when I get better and eventually moving onto NP. Valley hospital is definitely a great place to work and working in the ER allows me to give back to people and to be able to help those in need. I definitely have more empathy and sympathy to people who are heart patients.