Debbie Medina's Open Heart Surgery at Mayo Clinic

My name is Doreen Pierce, and I am asking for your love and support to help offset my sister Debbie Medina's upcoming medical bills for her open-heart surgery scheduled on March 8, 2023, at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

In 1967, Debbie underwent open-heart surgery at the tender age of six to repair a large hole in the upper chamber of her heart. Throughout Debbie’s life, she has maintained a healthy heart by embracing an active and healthy lifestyle as an avid hiker, swimmer, and gym and aerobic enthusiast.

In 2017, despite her healthy lifestyle, Debbie started experiencing a myriad of symptoms, including shortness of breath, weakness, tiredness, and reduced ability to be physically active. She scheduled an appointment with a cardiologist, was diagnosed with Atrial fibrillation (AFib) and was prescribed medication hoping it would remedy her symptoms. Still, the AFib continued to worsen, increasing her chances of a stroke. She unsuccessfully underwent electrical cardioversion, a process by which the heart is shocked to restore regular rhythm. Debbie’s symptoms worsened, causing the slightest exertion to leave her completely depleted of all energy.

Debbie started to experience a dangerous drop in her iron levels, developed difficulties digesting food, her abdomen became distended, and was diagnosed with Sjorgren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease. Her blood tests showed abnormal iron and liver levels, and a biopsy confirmed her liver function was compromised by the lack of blood flow from her heart. Debbie was also diagnosed with chronic anemia requiring periodic iron infusions, which only provided short-term benefits.

In January 2018, an MRI of Debbie’s heart showed that her tricuspid and mitral valves were leaking, which impaired the heart’s ability to efficiently circulate blood throughout her body, leading to her second open-heart surgery.

Her cardiologist decided the tricuspid valve would need to be replaced, and the mitral valve would need to be repaired. In addition, due to the severity of Debbie’s AFib, the cardiologist would perform a MAZE procedure during the surgery. This is a surgical procedure used to treat AFib where the surgeon creates a pattern (maze) of scar tissue in the heart's upper chambers.

In February 2019, Debbie underwent her second open-heart surgery at Mountain View Hospital. During the procedure, the surgeon repaired both valves rather than replacing the tricuspid valve as initially decided.

Unfortunately, Debbie’s heart did not respond as the surgeon had hoped. The tricuspid valve continued to leak, the MAZE procedure didn’t work, and her AFib returned. Debbie’s health continued to decline.

On August 18, 2021, Debbie had an ablation to eliminate abnormal electrical signals from her heart. At first, the ablation seemed successful, but eventually, the AFib returned.

In November 2021, Debbie was referred to Mayo Clinic in Arizona. She was accepted in early 2022 as a patient and began traveling to Arizona periodically for all additional tests and evaluations.

In March 2022, Mayo Clinic Arizona performed a cardioversion and, after several attempts, failed to establish a normal rhythm. An echocardiogram and MRI confirmed the tricuspid and pulmonary valves were leaking severely, and the heart was enlarged, increasing her lung pressure.

Due to the complexity of her case and the amount of scar tissue from two previous open-heart surgeries, Debbie’s cardiovascular surgeon decided it would be necessary for her to travel to Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis, MN, for her third open-heart surgery to replace both valves and repair the hole in her heart.

In July 2022, Debbie traveled to Mayo Clinic in Arizona to consult with a cardiovascular surgeon from Minnesota. After additional testing, it was confirmed that her tricuspid and pulmonary valves were leaking severely. Her heart's right side continues to be severely enlarged, and a hole was detected in her heart. A recent stress test done with images show cardiac stress under pressure.

In March 2023, Debbie will undergo her third open-heart surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, to replace both valves and repair the hole in her heart.

Through all the medical highs and lows, Debbie continues to teach elementary education, finding joy and normalcy in working with her students. At home, she experiences solace with her husband and the love and support of her three adult children and grandchildren. Debbie and her husband, Jesse, will celebrate their 39th anniversary in August 2023.

Debbie and her family remain hopeful that she will return to full health, but the mounting medical bills are overwhelming and contributing to an already stressful and trying time.

Please consider donating to help offset Debbie’s open-heart surgery medical bills. Any support would be greatly appreciated. No donation is too small.

I sincerely thank everyone for their generosity and compassion in selflessly giving to Debbie. Your prayers during this time are also appreciated.