Help Joel on his journey to get a new heart.

Dear friends and family of Joel Sloan,

I'm writing today on behalf of my beloved younger brother Joel. As you may know , Joel was diagnosed with a genetic form of advanced heart failure on February fourteenth of this year. He has endured a multitude of test and surgeries in the last six months and has demonstrated an incredible will to live that is nothing short of impressive. He has made significant life style changes in order to improve his chances of living long enough to get a life saving heart transplant as quickly as possible. Joel had a pace maker defibrillator implanted in his chest this past May and has been preparing for a heart transplant at OHSU in Portland, which was planned for this month. Joel was given a terminal diagnosis and was told even with a new heart he has five years to live.

Three weeks ago, we received the devastating news that OHSU cardiac board voted NO on Joel’s transplant. One of the main reasons for this decision is that his aorta is so enlarged it will have to be replaced as well. This will increase the severity of the procedure and lengthen the time of the surgery. Unfortunately, the OHSU board is not equipped to take on this additional risk. Joel, being the fighter that he is , is not willing to let this decision detour him from getting a heart. He and his cardiologist have sought out alternate programs that might possibly take his case.

Joel has moved to Los Angeles in his quest for a heart transplant. Fortunately, he has a guardian angel his friend Scott Holloway, who is funding his hotel expenses while in Los Angeles. Joel has been working on getting back on Medi-Cal and meeting with key personnel at the UCLA cardiology department. As you might expect, this has proven to be a full-time job.

Joel has not been able to work since his diagnosis and was living with our parents in Oregon who were funding his needs since February. Alas, they are on a fixed income and are unable to continue their generosity. The only income Joel had at this point is his food stamps of $190.00 per month. He has no transportation in Los Angeles and has all the other expenses of daily life that we all face. Once this is all said and done, despite all his best efforts to get all the cost of the procedures paid there will surely be unforeseen and unpaid medical bills.

As a family, we have avoided the “Go Fund Me” route as long as we can but we are now faced with having to ask for your help. If everyone could contribute something it would help Joel a lot! I am humbly asking if you can find it in your heart to please help my brother in his quest to secure a new heart. Any amount, large or small, would be greatly appreciated.

With your support, Joel can focus on maintaining his current fragile health and get on with the daunting number of activities required to be considered and accepted into a heart transplant program that will provide many more valuable years of life that we are all hoping and praying will become a reality for Joel. If you are wondering how else you could help, we encourage you to forward this message along to others.

Thank you all so much,

Dale Sloan