Help Mend Jonathan's Big Heart

*** UPDATE ***

With heavy hearts, we share that after a brave and relentless fight, Jonathan Kyle Gant passed away at 7:10 PM (PST) last night. He was surrounded by his mother, Brenda, and close friends.

Jonathan survived his surgery, but his body faced overwhelming challenges.

When it comes to aortic dissections, time is critical. Even with surgery, recovery is extremely difficult. Jonathan’s organs weren’t getting enough oxygen-rich blood, leading to internal bleeding, infection, and eventually, organ failure.

Jonathan fought with everything he had. With love and prayers from around the world, he held on as long as he could. In the end, his heart took its final beat.

In his last days, the love and generosity of so many carried Jonathan and gave him hope.

Now, while Jonathan’s fight is over, his mother’s is not. The hospital will not release Jonathan to come back to the United States until the medical bills are fully paid. The total costs, including surgery, hospital care, and his final days, have reached $83,500.

How You Can Help

We are continuing this GoFundMe to help Jonathan’s family. Your support will help cover the medical bills, bring Jonathan home to Seattle, and cover his funeral and memorial expenses.

-Donate Now: Every dollar helps lift the financial burden on Jonathan’s family.

-Share His Story: Spread the word so others can help.

Jonathan’s life was full of kindness, generosity, and love. Let’s come together one last time to honor his legacy and ease the burden on his family during this heartbreaking time.

❤️ Donate today to help bring Jonathan home. ❤️

With love and gratitude,

Brenda, Tabarak, Alicia, Darragh, and all of Jonathan’s loved ones.

******

On Christmas Eve 2024, Jonathan Gant’s life changed forever. While buying toys for over 70 local kids in Cebu, Philippines to make their Christmas brighter, Jonathan suffered a 7.1CM Type-A Aortic Dissection—a devastating tear in his heart that requires immediate open-heart surgery to save his life.

His condition, worsened by Marfan syndrome, has rapidly declined. After a week in the hospital, he is now intubated, fighting for every breath. Without urgent surgery, his time is running out.

Jonathan has spent his life spreading joy and kindness. Jonathan, from Skyway, Seattle, Washington, is a friend, a brother, and a light to everyone who knows him. Now, far from home in the Philippines, Jonathan is facing this terrifying battle alone.

Here is a photo of Jonathan with the very kids he was helping when he collapsed:

We, Jonathan’s family and friends, ask for your help. The surgery and recovery costs exceed $100,000, an impossible burden to bear alone.

How can I help?

• Donate Today: Every single dollar matters and brings us closer to saving his life.

• Share His Story: Spread the word to help us reach more people who can join this fight.

Jonathan has always given his all to others—let’s come together and give him the chance to keep living, loving, and making the world a better place.

❤ Donate now to help Jonathan mend his big heart. ❤

*******UPDATE*******

Raising the required funds to save Jonathan wasn't the only battle we had to face. The hospital Jonathan is at didn't have any of his blood type, or even a way to secure it.

By donating so generously, you have allowed those close to Jonathan to focus on this task which means every single share and donation was instrumental in this battle too.

Thanks to all of you, and incredible efforts from all over the globe, we have secured all the blood needed to perform the surgery, a testament to how loved Jonathan is.

Here is a photo of Tabarak, a lifelong friend of Jonathan who has been by his side in Cebu, with some of the donors who came in to save Jonathan!

When we took on the battle of raising funds to pay for the surgery, we didn't even know if it was possible. We didn't know if we could secure the blood, all we knew was that we had to try because Jonathan would do the same for us, and probably more.

Now with all of the blood and over 40% of the funds raised, we can see that monumental goals are achievable with help from others.

We, Jonathan's family and friends ask you to please double this effort, energy, and generosity now more than ever.

The end goal is in sight and none of it would be possible without all of you.

****UPDATE 2*****

The good news:

We weren’t sure if Jonathan would make it to the operating room, but we’re overjoyed to share that Jonathan DID undergo and SURVIVE his open-heart surgery. ❤

The hard news:

Aortic tears require immediate surgery, but Jonathan had to wait 11 days from collapse to operation.

By the time he was rushed into the operating room, he was fighting pneumonia, intubated, and on dialysis due to kidney failure.

His surgery was so last-minute that the last four blood donors were still donating as the operation began.

The next 24-48 hours are critical.

These surgeries carry significant risks, and his journey to recovery is far from over.

We can’t thank you enough for the love and support you’ve shown so far.

Please continue to stand with Jonathan and his family during this critical time.

With gratitude,

Brenda, Tabarak, Alicia, Darragh, and all of Jonathan’s loved ones

How can I help?

• Donate Today: Every single dollar matters and brings us closer to saving his life.

• Share His Story: Spread the word to help us reach more people who can join this fight.

Jonathan has always given his all to others—let’s come together and give him the chance to keep living, loving, and making the world a better place.

❤ Donate now to help Jonathan mend his big heart. ❤