Buffy’s NEW Heart Journey

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Most of you are aware that Buffy Shaw received the gift of life of an organ donation and received her ♥️ NEW HEART ♥️ on December 18, 2023.

A little over 7 years ago Buffy was diagnosed with a hereditary disease and heart failure. She almost instantly started having complications and eventually received a LVAD pump that kept her alive by pumping her heart. The external heart pump was always meant to be temporary and is placed at end stages of heart disease. As Buffy moved up “the list” she did her best to prepare for the inevitable organ transplant, the recovery she was facing, and pay her bills at the same time while carrying around the LVAD pump and battery pack 24/7.

On Dec 17, 2023, Buffy received the call that a heart became available and was a match. She headed back to UCSF and after a long 12-hour surgery, received her new heart!

Buffy is staying incredibly strong and did great the first few days after surgery, she was a total rockstar until she took a turn and has been battling complications since. She is less than two weeks from receiving her new heart and still has a huge mountain to climb on her way to recovery. The aftercare arrangements made prior to surgery which are part of the program have changed for a handful of reasons including several complications she has suffered, and they had to come up with a new plan which she was not financially prepared for.

Unfortunately, this past week she suffered a brain bleed and had a stroke. Her speech and motor skills were impacted (although anticipated to improve). Her one kidney she still has (the other was removed prior to surgery years ago) is struggling to function and they had to place an NG tube yesterday 12/29 due to a blockage. The neuro team has struggled with diagnostics due to the metal clips placed when she had her kidney removed. All of this on top of the organ transplant and her body adjusting to a new heart, no LVAD pump etc. She is far from out of the woods and fighting with everything she has left to stay alive for her daughter, granddaughters, and family.

With that being said, the changes to her post-transplant recovery plan are not covered by her insurance. She is required to stay within a certain distance from UCSF in San Francisco. The estimated cost for just the stay in this post-op setting facilitated by the hospital is about 8k ($6300 of this is a fixed fee, the others are food costs, daily parking etc). This arrangement, although not planned, is the only program acceptable option.

You all know Buffy is fiercely independent and never intended to “need help” but she does, and she needs it sooner than later. Her body cannot take the stress of this new barrier on top of the complications, and she needs to focus on recovery.

Buffy is so incredibly grateful for her new chance at life, every prayer, every call, msg, and text. Her family hopes by reaching out to her loved ones, and their loved ones and so on, the financial stress can take a backseat to her recovery, and she can just focus on living.

They would like to Thank every one of you in advance for taking the time to read this and sharing it!

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