Kyle's Medical Expenses

Dear family & friends,

My name is Kyle Richardson, and I am 56 years old. I am originally from Paterson, New Jersey and currently live in Covington, Georgia, with my wife Lawana and daughter Kayla.

I am asking that you take a moment and read my story.

In 2009 I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure due to high blood pressure. It was under control until 2019, when my health started declining. I was in and out of the hospital at least every three months. By May of 2020, I had a Pace Maker and Defibrillator implantation done.

I remember this day like it was yesterday, June 30th, 2020. I received a call from the nurse stating that my defibrillator had gone off and that I would need to get to the emergency room immediately. I didn’t even feel it but thank god it was detected, and this is where my life changed.

My heart was only functioning at 15%, and my kidneys were failing. This news was not what I wanted to hear, so I went into denial. I fought with the doctors to send me home, and the doctors informed me that if we send you home, Mr. Richardson, you will die! I was in such denial that the doctors called my wife, who could not be with me due to COVID. My wife called me and asked me if I was ready to die. It was a conversation that I needed to have with her. She looked at me through FaceTime and said I am not ready for you to go! I need you to fight! You need to listen to this team and do what needs to be done to stay alive. This conversation made me realize that my health was failing, and I wanted to fight for my life.

It was determined that I would need to be placed on dialysis and undergo open heart surgery to have an LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) placed inside my heart. This device truly saved my life. The primary function of this device is to help pump blood from the lower left heart chamber (left ventricle) to the rest of the body. I have a control unit and battery pack worn outside the body and connected to the LVAD through a small opening (port) in the skin. The batteries must be changed every 8 hours, and I plug myself into a wall at night while I sleep.

In November of 2021, I contracted an infection that would put me back in the hospital for six weeks. This infection took a toll on my body. I had numerous procedures performed, and it got to the point that I would need to have my LVAD replaced, which meant another open heart surgery. I almost lost my life with this second surgery, but the doctors didn’t give up on me.

I am currently on my second LVAD and must go to dialysis three times a week. The medical team determined I would be a great candidate for a heart and kidney transplant. Duke University Hospital took on my case and evaluated my situation, and I am happy to announce that I have been placed on the organ transplant list for both a heart and kidney transplant.

The transplant will take place at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina. When I get the call, we will need to leave immediately. We would have to temporally relocate to North Carolina until I am well enough to go back home to Georgia, which I am told could be anywhere from 2 to 4 months.

We are thankful for the extraordinary team of doctors here in Georgia and North Carolina.

We started this Go Fund Me account, praying that your contributions will ease the burden of expenses that will be passed on to us. Over the following days, weeks, and months as we prepare for that call, I will need to be at countless doctors’ appointments, which will require me to travel to North Carolina at any given moment. As you can imagine, the average costs of everyday living, such as rent, food, gas and medical expenses, can be astronomical, let alone the unexpected cost of maintaining two households for the next few months ahead of my recovery.

From the bottom of our hearts, we humbly ask that you share this link with friends and family and, if possible, give (any amount will help) to ease the burden on my family.

We thank you for your support, and God bless every one of you!!