Adam's Open Heart Sugery
Donation protected
(Please share this post with friends, family and general public)
Hello my name is Brittany and my husband Adam is scheduled to undergo the first of at least two open heart surgeries. His first surgery date will be January 7th of 2020.
My husband was born with a bicuspid aortic valve.
The above picture depicts an aortic valve that has two leaflets, instead of the normal three. One to two percent of the population have this genetic condition. The aortic valve regulates blood flow from the heart. It is also the major blood vessel that brings oxygen-rich blood to the body.
A Bicuspid aortic valve can sometimes lead to symptoms of heart failure. When this occurs, side effects such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling can take place and even worse an aortic aneurysm could develop leading to bleeding or perhaps rupture.
Unfortunately, Adam has also been diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm; most likely caused by the bicuspid aortic valve.
Cardiologists typically operate on an aneurysm when it reaches 55mm, but in Adam’s case, due to the additional bicuspid aortic valve an urgency for immediate surgery lies at 50mm. My husband’s aneurysm currently measures at 52mm.
I first met Adam in International Falls, MN in 2012. I’m from Canada and Adam is from the state of Kansas. Shortly after getting to know Adam, I became aware of his heart issue, but neither us nor Mayo’s physicians expected his condition to progress so quickly.
We fell passionately in love and married in 2013. Thus began our multi-year struggle with beaurocratic immigration laws. I had to return to Canada (11 hours one-way) on a weekly basis in order to accommodate American immigration laws.
We quickly realized our immigration attorney’s timeline was regularly being extended, so Adam gave his employer of ten years his resignation and we moved to Minnesota near the Canadian border which enabled us much more time together during our first year of marriage.
Regretfully, between the cut in salary, what amounted to $13k in immigration and attorney fees, and medical bills, we’ve felt obligated to postpone purchasing a home or starting a family.
It wasn’t until a yearly physical in 2012 that Adam was diagnosed with a heart murmur and testing began.
Three-and-a-half weeks went by and Adam finally received a phone call from a registered nurse stating that he needed to come in to discuss the echo results. On that day Adam went to see the doctor alone and unprepared. This is when he was first diagnosed with both a bicuspid valve and a 43mm aortic aneurysm. He was told by the cardiologist there was nothing to worry about until he was in his 50’s or 60’s.
A medical exam in 2015 confirmed his aneurysm still measured 43mm. Since Adam was checking out healthy, all things considered, with no new aneurysm growth, he discontinued the recommended expensive annual medical tests.
Adam’s health took a turn for the worse this summer of 2019 when he started experiencing frequent chest pain, sweats, upper back pain, sleepless nights, dizziness, and loss of equilibrium. His body was clearly telling him things were not okay. There has always been the possibility that his aneurysm might tear or rupture becoming a life-threatening condition, and testing has revealed his aneurysm has grown to 52mm. After visits with Mayo physicians including the cardiologist and cardiac surgeon, we prepare for the first of Adam’s open-heart surgeries.
Dental surgery was required recently to clear him for heart surgery. This procedure was not covered by our insurance.
Time off work might be 6-8 weeks or longer. It is not uncommon to have 2-3 months for full recovery.
After our meetings recently at Mayo and getting the required dental surgery, we realized we we’re looking at another chapter of our lives with financial debt. Once again, realizing purchasing a home and starting a family need to be postponed. .
We have estimated our financial obligations to accumulate to a figure of $25,000.
Insurance Copays
Maximum Deductibles
Monthly Salary Reduction of 50%
Medications Refused by Insurance
Medical Test, Procedures not covered by Insurance
Suggested/prescribed medical supplies
I am asking from the kindness of my heart that anyone who takes compassion please contribute to my husband’s surgery fund. Any amount will help and be greatly appreciated. Not only do we face a great reduction in income while he is recovering, but we also are challenged with an abundance of medical bills.
I would personally like to thank each one of you for your donations. Please keep us in your prayers as we face this crucial time in our lives. We know that God is in control and he will be with us through the entire process.
I will continue to keep you informed of Adam’s progress and will post pictures and updates as he progresses. Please share our need with others.
Thank you so much!
***
Hello my name is Brittany and my husband Adam is scheduled to undergo the first of at least two open heart surgeries. His first surgery date will be January 7th of 2020.
My husband was born with a bicuspid aortic valve.
The above picture depicts an aortic valve that has two leaflets, instead of the normal three. One to two percent of the population have this genetic condition. The aortic valve regulates blood flow from the heart. It is also the major blood vessel that brings oxygen-rich blood to the body.
A Bicuspid aortic valve can sometimes lead to symptoms of heart failure. When this occurs, side effects such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling can take place and even worse an aortic aneurysm could develop leading to bleeding or perhaps rupture.
Unfortunately, Adam has also been diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm; most likely caused by the bicuspid aortic valve.
Cardiologists typically operate on an aneurysm when it reaches 55mm, but in Adam’s case, due to the additional bicuspid aortic valve an urgency for immediate surgery lies at 50mm. My husband’s aneurysm currently measures at 52mm.
I first met Adam in International Falls, MN in 2012. I’m from Canada and Adam is from the state of Kansas. Shortly after getting to know Adam, I became aware of his heart issue, but neither us nor Mayo’s physicians expected his condition to progress so quickly.
We fell passionately in love and married in 2013. Thus began our multi-year struggle with beaurocratic immigration laws. I had to return to Canada (11 hours one-way) on a weekly basis in order to accommodate American immigration laws.
We quickly realized our immigration attorney’s timeline was regularly being extended, so Adam gave his employer of ten years his resignation and we moved to Minnesota near the Canadian border which enabled us much more time together during our first year of marriage.
Regretfully, between the cut in salary, what amounted to $13k in immigration and attorney fees, and medical bills, we’ve felt obligated to postpone purchasing a home or starting a family.
It wasn’t until a yearly physical in 2012 that Adam was diagnosed with a heart murmur and testing began.
Three-and-a-half weeks went by and Adam finally received a phone call from a registered nurse stating that he needed to come in to discuss the echo results. On that day Adam went to see the doctor alone and unprepared. This is when he was first diagnosed with both a bicuspid valve and a 43mm aortic aneurysm. He was told by the cardiologist there was nothing to worry about until he was in his 50’s or 60’s.
A medical exam in 2015 confirmed his aneurysm still measured 43mm. Since Adam was checking out healthy, all things considered, with no new aneurysm growth, he discontinued the recommended expensive annual medical tests.
Adam’s health took a turn for the worse this summer of 2019 when he started experiencing frequent chest pain, sweats, upper back pain, sleepless nights, dizziness, and loss of equilibrium. His body was clearly telling him things were not okay. There has always been the possibility that his aneurysm might tear or rupture becoming a life-threatening condition, and testing has revealed his aneurysm has grown to 52mm. After visits with Mayo physicians including the cardiologist and cardiac surgeon, we prepare for the first of Adam’s open-heart surgeries.
Dental surgery was required recently to clear him for heart surgery. This procedure was not covered by our insurance.
Time off work might be 6-8 weeks or longer. It is not uncommon to have 2-3 months for full recovery.
After our meetings recently at Mayo and getting the required dental surgery, we realized we we’re looking at another chapter of our lives with financial debt. Once again, realizing purchasing a home and starting a family need to be postponed. .
We have estimated our financial obligations to accumulate to a figure of $25,000.
Insurance Copays
Maximum Deductibles
Monthly Salary Reduction of 50%
Medications Refused by Insurance
Medical Test, Procedures not covered by Insurance
Suggested/prescribed medical supplies
I am asking from the kindness of my heart that anyone who takes compassion please contribute to my husband’s surgery fund. Any amount will help and be greatly appreciated. Not only do we face a great reduction in income while he is recovering, but we also are challenged with an abundance of medical bills.
I would personally like to thank each one of you for your donations. Please keep us in your prayers as we face this crucial time in our lives. We know that God is in control and he will be with us through the entire process.
I will continue to keep you informed of Adam’s progress and will post pictures and updates as he progresses. Please share our need with others.
Thank you so much!
***
Organizer and beneficiary
Brittany Lindsey
Organizer
Rochester, MN
Adam Lindsey
Beneficiary