Sunnys Heart Emergency

Sundance “Sunny” Edelman was born with a congenital heart defect, medically known as Aortic Insufficiency or a heart murmur. The aortic valve, one of four valves within the heart, controls the flow of blood between the left ventricle and the aorta, the main artery that carries oxygenated blood through the body. The aortic valve opens to allow blood to flow into the aorta and then closes to prevent blood from flowing back into the left ventricle. In aortic insufficiency, the three flaps of the aortic valve, called leaflets, do not close tightly, allowing blood to leak back into the heart. This causes a decrease in blood pressure in the aorta, an increase in pulse pressure, and a decreased forward flow of blood. This is also commonly known as aortic regurgitation. 


In 1997, Sunny underwent open-heart surgery to replace the leaking valve and had a bioprosthetic valve (Bovine or cow valve) placed at a young 13 years old. This surgery came after being hit by a car at the age of 10, breaking nearly every bone on the left side on his body, both sides of his hip, having to have reconstructive surgery on his left knee cap and being in a full body cast for 6 months while recovering. Doctors prepared him at that time for the possibility of never being able to walk or having a full quality of life. With the help of his Grandma “Mom” and the doctors, nurses and rehabilitation specialists, he regained all of his mobility and quality of life back. 


Then, three years later, he is told that he must undergo this surgery, which is only a temporary fix, in order to prolong his life. The pain was excruciating and recovery time was long, but he made it through and has lived an amazing life thus far. Doctors told Sunny that the life expectancy of the bioprosthetic valve ranged between 10-15 years. 


Here he is, 23 years later and is just now having complications due to valve failure. He was able to extend the life expectancy of the valve far beyond what he was originally told and has enjoyed life to the fullest up to this point. 


The Cardiologist has informed him that he is in need of a valve replacement as soon as possible. The problem that he is facing at the moment is a lack of health insurance.   This young family recently uprooted their lives from Southern California to West Valley Phoenix, Arizona so they could be together as a family once again. Sunny has been a traveling superintendent, working in Arizona for the last couple of years. Family life has been tough, but Sunny has made the drive home to California every weekend to spend it with his family. Sunny is currently in the process of adopting his wife’s two children (ages 14 and 16) to which he has been raising as his own for the last 12 years. 

If you or anyone else you know can make a small contribution to this family to help alleviate some of the financial burden of this very expensive surgery, that would be absolutely amazing. 

Thank you for reading about this amazing, caring and unconditionally loving young mans life.