Help for Sandy Rowan’s Heart

Hi, This is Sandy Rowan’s daughter, Sandy.♥️ My Mom has been through so very much over the past 8 years, and with your help, I would love to make the financial burden a little less for her. Here’s part of her story...

 

In 2014, my mom presented with symptoms and was told that she needed to see a cardiologist. I went with her to that appointment, and we left the office with her in a life vest to wear over the weekend. She had emergency surgery a few days later to have a pacemaker and ICD implanted...basically, “life insurance.” Her diagnoses are , nonischemic cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. She was hospitalized again not long after implantation because she was still having symptoms because her medications were not working properly. Eventually, her meds were straightened out in a way that worked well for her...for a long time.

 

Fast forward to August 2021...

 

We believe that my mom has been doing pretty well for the past several years since her original symptoms began and after initial surgery. Her pacemaker/ICD began beeping several months ago, indicating that it was time for a replacement to be done...a routine surgery for patients like my mom. There were no new issues with her heart...just time to get a new battery. During the surgery, the original leads that connect to the generator were not replaced. We were told that this is standard when changing the generator...unless there are issues with the leads that would warrant them to be replaced, too.

 

On Sunday, January 2, 2022, her device began beeping again. Confused by this, she called her cardiologist the next day (Monday). She said she felt fine, but she didn’t understand why her device was beeping again. She was told to go to her electrophysiologist’s office on Tuesday to be checked. However, that same day, she called the electrophysiologist’s office to tell them that her device delivered a therapy to her heart...meaning, it shocked her. She described it as a bright flash of light followed by a very scary and painful jolt...like she was being struck by lightning. Approximately 15 minutes later, it happened again. Shortly after, I had her at the electrophysiologist’s office where they interrogated her device, etc. We were told that there was an issue with one of the leads. It was malfunctioning. On Wednesday, January 5, 2022, she had surgery to replace the entire device...including the leads this time. There were still complications...including afib and runs of vtach, which are life-threatening...especially if they are sustained. She was in CCU and then moved to ICU. She went into the operating room for surgery AGAIN the next day (Jan.6). This particular surgery was performed by a top notch heart surgeon, but she now needs what the medical field calls, “advanced therapy” for her heart.

 

On February 7, my Mom received the gift of a new-to-her heart through a heart transplant. While this was unexpected, we believe that God has blessed her with another chance at life...without a diseased heart. We are forever grateful to her donor, and we pray for the donor’s family.

My Mom is still in the hospital recovering,  I want to bless her in any way that I can. Would you please pray and consider donating? Any amount will help her, and I know she will be so grateful...as will I. My mom is a fighter and is the strongest woman I know. I love her so very much!!!

 

Thank you, and God bless you all!!!

 

Blessings,

Sandy & Sandy ♥️