Jeanne’s journey to a new heart

  • US$6,525.00
    raised of $6,500.00 goal goal
100% Funded
89 Donors
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My name is Jamie and I am a 32 year old mother of two (1 and 3 year old). My mother Jeanne is genuinely one of the most thoughtful and compassionate people I have ever met. My mom is there for everyone. She is an AMAZING and loving mother and grandmother and my best friend. My mom has the "best" heart of anyone I know.

In 2008 at just 52 years old my mother was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy which is hereditary in our family. Her brother mother and grandmother all died at very young ages due to the same illness. My mom had a pacemaker and defibrillator at her initial diagnosis and they attempted to correct her problems with medical procedures and ablations to no avail.

In November 2012 my mom had a routine right heart catheter procedure done at Barnes and was told that she had possibly 3 months to live without intervention and that she could not leave the hospital without the assistance of a Left Ventricular Assist device as a bridge to transplant. She underwent the major surgery and was placed on the heart transplant list. The LVAD works for the left side of her weak heart and she carries batteries with her daily.Ten days after returning home from her surgery, she suffered a stroke. Thankfully she underwent a life saving brain surgery at her local hospital that saved her life and returned the use of her arm and leg.

My mom has now been on the transplant list through Barnes now for 2 1/2 yeas at a 1A status due to her complications without yet receiving her call. My mom has some antibodies which make it a little trickier to find her perfect match.

After a lot of time on transplant row and a lot of thinking, my mom has started the process of getting listed through Baylor Healthcare System's transplant program in Dallas, TX. They are a high volume facility with much lower wait times. The emergency airflight she would need when she gets the call is not covered by medicare and is averaging at $12,000. Therefore my mom's hand has been forced and she will have to move to Dallas temporarily to await her perfect heart. She has a friend's family member that lives two hours from the transplant facility that has offered to open her home to my mother until she gets her call. After transplant my mom and her husband will have to live in Dallas for up to 3 months and will be required to pay a per night rate out of pocket to stay there. This amount will be thousands of dollar while they still have their home with a mortgage in St. Louis. Not to mention all other travel costs and medical fees.

This amazing lady has a long, hard and expensive road ahead of her. We look forward to the time when she is over this speed bump in life and living the full and healthy life that she deserves.

My mother would never ask for help and I wouldn't ask if she didn't need it. This has been a very humbling and emotional time for our family and I thank you in advance for any help you can provide. Every little bit helps. Still unbelievable that the woman with the best heart I know needs a new one.

Organizer

  • Jamie Conners
  •  
  • Campaign Owner

Donors

Amount Hidden
  • Donna Garcia
  • Donated on Oct 27, 2015
  • You are in our prayers. Stay strong.

Amount Hidden
  • Stephanie Grant
  • Donated on Oct 23, 2015
$50.00
Oct 19

she got THE CALL!

Update posted by Jamie Conners at 06:51 am

Mom got THE call about 7:30 tonight. We took her to spirit of St. Louis airport for a pick up of emergency airlift at 9 pm. They were sweet enough to let me hitch a ride with mom and Jerry. We arrived in Dallas at midnight and she is going

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0
Aug 29

Baylor List

Update posted by Jamie Conners at 02:15 am

As of August 6th my mom was officially accepted onto Baylor's list at a 1b status. She had to jump thorough hoops and wait for calls for 5 months. They have guesstimated 3-6 months wait given her antibodies. She will more than likely move to Dallas when the winter months

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Jul 28

Update for now.

Update posted by Jamie Conners at 12:36 am

So, this is as much of an update as I have right now. Mom is scheduled to go to Baylor next week for some more mandatory testing before her official listing on their heart transplant list. She was informed by her listing coordinator that once she is officially listed she. . . . .

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0
Jun 05

Update about Baylor directly from my momma

Update posted by Jamie Conners at 11:32 pm

As many of you know I have been working hard to get a heart transplant through Baylor University Hospital in Dallas, TX. My plan was to move there and wait. Today I received a call that I will be listed but with my high antibody count they suggest I stay. . . . .

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1

Donors & Comments

89 donors
Amount Hidden
  • Donna Garcia
  • Donated on Oct 27, 2015
  • You are in our prayers. Stay strong.

Amount Hidden
  • Stephanie Grant
  • Donated on Oct 23, 2015
$50.00
  • Donna and Byron Eller
  • Donated on Oct 23, 2015
  • Stay strong! You are an amazing woman! We love you more than you know! You got this!

$100.00
  • Larry and nicole pennock
  • Donated on Oct 22, 2015
$50.00
  • Christina Winkler
  • Donated on Oct 22, 2015
$50.00
  • Nichole Zielke
  • Donated on Oct 22, 2015
  • Good luck to a lady who sounds amazing! God hasn't forgotten you!

$10.00
$50.00
  • Sara V
  • Donated on Oct 22, 2015
$75.00
  • Patsy Barrow
  • Donated on Oct 19, 2015
Amount Hidden
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US$6,525.00
raised of $6,500.00 goal
100% Funded
89 Donors