A new HEART for Julie!

Our story begins back on the 4th of July, 1989, at the Taste of Chicago where I met my best friend, lover, and wife, Julie.  She was 20 years old and I was 26.   We moved into an apartment together a year later and started planning our lives; Julie worked in marketing for WMAQ Radio (NBC)/White Sox Baseball and I worked in transportation/set-up with movies, concerts, and  trade shows.  Little did we know at the time, that "If you want to make God laugh, you make plans!"

In 1992, at 23 years old Julie was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin's Disease and given a 40 % chance to live.  She went through some very aggressive radiation therapy for one year and went into remission for two years.  In 1993, we got married.  In 1994, God gave us the miracle of our daughter Princess  Kimberly, whom we were never supposed to have! (Kim is now a beautiful, healthy, 21 year old college student at UCF majoring in event management/public relations.  She is also a sister to all in the Kappa Delta Sorority.)

But in 1995, Julie experienced a reoccurrence of the Hodgkin's and was admitted into an agressive  chemotherapy drug trial at a university hospital in Chicago!  Julie is a tough cookie who wants to live!  She is a wonderful wife and mother who has been in and out of hospitals for the last 20 years with admissions for multiple medical problems all caused by her cancer treatments! The drugs used back then to save her, are killing her now!

Today, Julie is 47 years young, and she can't catch a break!  We moved to Orlando, Florida, 3 years ago because it was Julie's dream to visit Walt Disney World often, and to work there part-time so she could spread her love of Disney to all who visit!  And another goal for her is to finally finish a degree program in Fine Arts,  which she has been working on for years part-time whenever she was feeling well enough.

Since moving to Orlando, Julie has been in the fight of her life--Julie's heart is failing because of the chemo toxicity and she now needs a new heart!  The out-of-pocket expenses are crushing us, as we are a "normal" middle class family.  Medical bills now stand around $100,000 out of pocket for the past 3 years only! Heart transplantation is a $1.2 million surgery, and the anti-rejection medications Julie will be on for the rest of her life are approximately $5,000 per month, and paid at only 80%.

So, all of this is the reason  why I am asking for your help today!  We need to have a way to pay the 20% that will not be covered for her new heart, doctor follow-ups,  drugs, and rehabilitation.  We also need to think about great nutrition now and following surgery, gas, and parking fees, etc...it all adds up quickly!  Julie is listed as a 1A(b) transplant, which means she is of great priority.  I will do anything to save my wife, Julie!  Every dollar will help us in this time of need!  And yes, I am begging you!  I am on my knees for the first time in my life asking for help--we have been a strong, proud couple!  Please help JULIE!!!  Even if you are unable to donate at this time,  please share and like her campaign on Facebook!  I need this to go worldwide!  If I can touch 100,000 people with $1, we can do this for Julie!  She has a lot more life to give this world, and I am not ready to say goodbye!!!

I LOVE YOU JULIE ZEBRAUSKAS!!!