Praise God!!  I have received a new heart and I'm so grateful!

 

I am alive because of God's grace, the great care from the U of M Cardiovascular Team, the support and prayers of so many wonderful family and friends, and the incredible generosity of a stranger.

 

To celebrate, express my gratitude and promote the mission of the American Heart Association, I have joined the 2026 Washtenaw County Heart and Stroke Walk.

 

My heart story began in 2014 when I went into a dangerously fast heart arrythmia called Ventricular Tachycardia, or VTach, during a cardiac stress test.  An Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, or ICD, was implanted two days later which shocked my heart into normal rhythm and saved my life many times over the next eleven years.  During that time, I also had four cardiac ablations, each did not result in the success my electrophysiologists had hoped for.

 

My heart and valves continued to grow weaker as my care team considered various treatment options, each hitting a closed door.  Finally, a heart transplant seemed to be the only answer but that brought on its own set of obstacles.  While being evaluated for a transplant my team discovered I had high levels of antibodies which would make finding a donor unlikely.  I was told I would reject 95% of available hearts.

 

Due to the antibody issue the surgical director recommended a Left Ventricular Assistive Device, or LVAD.  An LVAD is a mechanical heart pump which helps a weakened heart pump blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the body.  It is primarily used to improve quality of life and can serve as a long-term bridge ahead of transplant.  The LVAD was implanted in May of 2022, right before Tony and Madison's wedding!  I depended on the LVAD for the next three and a half years.

 

After the LVAD was implanted, my heart team started working with transplant immunologists and a plan was created to attempt to remove the antibodies through a process called desensitization.  This treatment allowed me to be placed on the transplant list.

 

The desensitization process was started but after two years waiting for a heart my left ventricle and aortic valve continued to fail and the need for transplant became more urgent.  In September of 2025 I was hospitalized while waiting for a heart.

 

Five months ago, on November 8, 2025, I received the gift of a second chance at life. I was told they found a very good match that was of excellent quality and suitably sized.  Could this really be happening?

 

PRAISE GOD!!

 

Today, I plan to walk in the heart walk in honor of my donor, and to help others waiting for a new heart get the same opportunity I did.  My goal is to raise $1000. 

 

Please consider donating to help me reach my goal and to support the mission of the American Heart Association:

'Building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke'.

 

I am walking to save lives!

 

Thank you for all of your support over the years!

Sharon