A Heart Not Made for Defeat

When I was growing up, my big brother was everything.  The guy who played Barbies wrong, taught me the words to 80's hair band songs, and how to play hockey in the kitchen.  He was so strong that I could do chin-ups on his biceps. He wasn't always that strong; before I was born he was a blue baby with a heart defect. Kevin was born with a congenital heart disease that caused the blood to flow backwards, keeping it from oxygenating properly.

At two, he had open heart surgery, a revolutionary procedure at the time. Not many who had the procedure survived, but Kevin pulled through. His heart has carried him through teaching history and geography, coaching football and soccer, a fantastic marriage, and the birth of three daughters. After fourty years his heart has grown tired. He is battling congestive heart failure and needs a new heart.

Thankfully, he was placed on the heart transplant list this week and will have a new heart soon. Unfortunately, this all has a monetary cost. From the million dollar surgery to the $500 a month medications he'll need for the rest of his life (and that's after insurance!!!), to the strain of a two income family becoming a one income family for the foreseeable future. He is too modest to ever ask for it on his own, but his family needs your help. Please, donate what you can and pass this story on to others willing to help.