Orlando needs a new heart. ❤️

If you know Orlando Brooks, you already know he’s a family man, a hard worker and an all-around good guy. He has a fiancé Robin Washburn who has been by his side through this journey. He is also a father and a loving grandfather of 5.

Orlando has had a clean bill of health all of his life. However, in March 2022, Orlando’s life changed forever. He was diagnosed with a chronic condition called Congestive Heart Failure. After his diagnosis, he has prescribed heart medication and a healthy heart diet. In July 2022, he was experiencing shortness of breath and swelling of the feet and ankles. He visited his primary care physician, and after more testing, they discovered he had an " amyloidosis " disease. Amyloidosis attacks organs-in his case, it is attacking his heart. It is causing his heart to thicken and become very weak.

Orlando’s health issues did not stop there. In August 2022, it was discovered that he also has "multiple myeloma" (a rare blood cancer). His oncologist advised him to start chemotherapy immediately! Here in October, his heart is getting weaker by the day. He has been hospitalized now for the past three weeks in two different hospitals. It has been determined that the only way he will survive is to have a heart transplant. This all happened so suddenly!! Our local hospitals do not perform heart transplants in "difficult" situations like Orlando’s. After reaching out to multiple hospitals around the country, we finally got a call that a hospital in California could perform the heart transplant.

Even though it won’t stop there because he still has to fight the battle with blood cancer, we were still very excited that we were finally getting some good news. However, because Orlando is in a life-or-death situation, he will be flown out to California in the next couple of days. The 3-4 month stay in California for housing and medical expenses will put a financial burden on their family. We are asking for donations to help with these expenses. Any amount will be greatly appreciated!

With Love,

Orlando Brooks and family ❤️