Natalie Gardner-open heart surgery in Ottawa

Hello,

This is the first time I share my story publicly. This is difficult for me to do, but here we go. I am 45. My husband and I have been married for 22 years and we have 2 pretty awesome daughters (17&20). I have a lot to live for and look forward to and therefore decided to bite the bullet and ask for help to allow them to travel with me while I undergo a very high risk open heart surgery.

I will be travelling to the Heart Institute in Ottawa for this open heart surgery. This is a very complicated operation due to my other health conditions and therefore the cardiac surgeons here have referred me to the "best cardiac facility in the country".

The condition my heart is in today is due to a previous treatment. At the age of 8 I began a long, hard battle fighting cancer. I was treated with chemotherapy and radiation to my neck and chest. This treatment caused valves in my heart to thicken. The end result is the valves do not close properly and the blood backflows into my lungs instead of being pumped out to my organs and extremities.

This is weakening my heart leaving me incredibly short of breath. My muscles are not getting the blood and oxygen they need to work properly. It's become so severe I need to take frequent breaks doing just about anything, including getting dressed.

This open heart surgery is very high risk for a few reasons including having previous open heart surgery and another surgery where they inserted clips into my heart. Because of the risk level with this next surgery I really want my husband and our teenage daughters to be with me.

While calculating travel, accommodations and meals for a minimum of 2 weeks in Ottawa is going well beyond our means since I can no longer work. I really want my husband and children to be together to support each other while supporting me.

Please accept the most heartfelt thank you imaginable for reading my story and assisting with keeping my family close during a very difficult time for us.

If you are comfortable providing your address with a donation I will be mailing thank you cards to show our gratitude once recovered.