Surgery for aortic graft replacement

Hi, I’m Sherry and I was diagnosed with a very rare disease called Takayasu’s Arterirtis back in 2009. This is an autoimmune disease that makes your body think your arteries are like a cold and it attacks them, such as if you have a cold your body attacks those cells to fight it off.

I have had stents placed in the past and even open heart surgery done in June of 2018 in which Mayo doctors from Rochester, MN had to graft part of my upper aorta and implant a mechanical valve. During that surgery when they cut through my aorta, some debris from inside my aorta caused me to have a stroke which affected my right hand and my memory.

Mayo Clinic doctor’s have decided I need an aortic graft replacement and they are trying to get it scheduled for August of this year. This is a very serious surgery that can only be done at Mayo in Rochester, MN. I was told the doctor’s preform about 20 to 30 of these surgeries a year and people in my age group usually pull through really well, but there are many things that could happen that put me at risk… I was told I would be in the hospital up there for at least 2 weeks, and recovery time for this surgery could take 3 to 4 months… I’m certain I will have therapy after the surgery (after I heal a little). The expenses are going to be huge as my Illinois Medicaid is not accepted at Rochester’s Mayo Clinic & hospitals. And I cannot apply for Medicare Advantage plans until October 15, and I’m sure they won’t go into effect until January of 2024.

I have applied for financial assistance from Mayo Clinic, but I haven’t heard anything back yet. I only set the fundraiser for $5000 and I hope that will help with hotel stays for my family and gas driving up there. This will also help with my Illinois Medicaid as I have a $600 spend down every month, and seeing as I can’t get new insurance until the new year, I’m sure I will go through this fast.

If anyone could help, my family and I would be very appreciative… if you cannot help financially, I would be even more appreciative if you could at least say some prayers for my family and I. Love to all!!!

-Sherry