A New Heart for Kathy!!!
Donation protected
Thank you, for taking the time to read this. I’m Kathy (O’Donnell) Ferrone’s daughter, Nicole Hurley, and establishing this GoFundMe page on her behalf.
To say that heart issues run in our family, would be the understatement of the century. My mom, Kathy, has dealt with them for years, but they’ve progressively gotten worse.
In March 2017, my mom went to the ER at Brandon Hospital, in Brandon, FL, because she was having trouble breathing, and said it felt like there was an anvil on her chest. They ran some tests, and basically told her that “she’s old,” “this is what happens when you get old,” and sent her home.
A month later, in April 2017, she felt the same way, and wanted to go back to the ER. Since Brandon Hospital was so quick to dismiss her, I took her to St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Riverview, FL. She gave them her paperwork from the month before, and they immediately admitted her.
During her stay there, and many tests later, it was determined that she needed heart surgery. Originally, they were going to replace her valves, but ended up “repairing” them. I use quotes, because it didn’t help. That was in June 2017.
Fast forward to February 2018, 8 months later. Surgery didn’t help, and neither did changing her meds, so she had a second surgery, to get a pacemaker/defibrillator put in. She had been wearing a life vest previously, that would shock her heart, if it stopped.
Since nothing her doctors were doing seemed to help, she decided to go to the ER at Tampa General, in July 2018. She was immediately admitted, and was told she needed a new heart. So, now, she is in the process of getting a heart transplant through the Tampa General Hospital Transplant Program.
In the meantime, they gave her a central line, and she’s on IV meds, 24/7, that I have to change daily. Even after all this, her heart is still only functioning between 10 and 15%. If things get any worse while she waits, she will require a VAD (ventricular assist device).
The hospital is the one who suggested we start a GoFundMe, so she has a “cushion,” in case something happens, and we can’t afford it. They seemed particularly concerned with certain meds she could need after her transplant, that probably won’t be covered by her insurance, in case of infection, or rejection of her heart.
So, all donations will go towards her medical expenses, and any other financial responsibilities that will burden her, while she‘s waiting for her new heart. No donation is too small. If you are able to donate, and/or share, we’d be very grateful. Every little bit helps.
To say that heart issues run in our family, would be the understatement of the century. My mom, Kathy, has dealt with them for years, but they’ve progressively gotten worse.
In March 2017, my mom went to the ER at Brandon Hospital, in Brandon, FL, because she was having trouble breathing, and said it felt like there was an anvil on her chest. They ran some tests, and basically told her that “she’s old,” “this is what happens when you get old,” and sent her home.
A month later, in April 2017, she felt the same way, and wanted to go back to the ER. Since Brandon Hospital was so quick to dismiss her, I took her to St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Riverview, FL. She gave them her paperwork from the month before, and they immediately admitted her.
During her stay there, and many tests later, it was determined that she needed heart surgery. Originally, they were going to replace her valves, but ended up “repairing” them. I use quotes, because it didn’t help. That was in June 2017.
Fast forward to February 2018, 8 months later. Surgery didn’t help, and neither did changing her meds, so she had a second surgery, to get a pacemaker/defibrillator put in. She had been wearing a life vest previously, that would shock her heart, if it stopped.
Since nothing her doctors were doing seemed to help, she decided to go to the ER at Tampa General, in July 2018. She was immediately admitted, and was told she needed a new heart. So, now, she is in the process of getting a heart transplant through the Tampa General Hospital Transplant Program.
In the meantime, they gave her a central line, and she’s on IV meds, 24/7, that I have to change daily. Even after all this, her heart is still only functioning between 10 and 15%. If things get any worse while she waits, she will require a VAD (ventricular assist device).
The hospital is the one who suggested we start a GoFundMe, so she has a “cushion,” in case something happens, and we can’t afford it. They seemed particularly concerned with certain meds she could need after her transplant, that probably won’t be covered by her insurance, in case of infection, or rejection of her heart.
So, all donations will go towards her medical expenses, and any other financial responsibilities that will burden her, while she‘s waiting for her new heart. No donation is too small. If you are able to donate, and/or share, we’d be very grateful. Every little bit helps.
Organizer
Kathy O'Donnell Ferrone
Organizer
Riverview, FL