“I remember wanting to be an artist in fifth grade. I later worked for a Mardi Gras float builder making float sculptures out of paper mache, but I didn’t embrace being an artist until I became an activities specialist for Mobile Parks and Recreation three years ago. I lead clubs and art activities for kids and plan international and cultural events that bring our community together. This job is all of my passions together. It’s also why I have the insurance that will help save my life.

Before this job, I was a stay-at-home mom of four kids with very little income, receiving Medicaid and food stamps. I went to the health department for medical care and kept going even after I got this job with insurance. My nurse practitioner listened to my heart and very calmly asked, “Has anyone ever told you you have a heart murmur?” Sure, I’ve known that for over 25 years and carried on. Doesn’t everyone have a heart murmur? 

I was sent to cardiology. They did some baseline testing and found out I have a congenital bicuspid aortic valve. They weren’t alarmed by the stenosis of my aortic valve at the time, so it went over my head how serious it could be. I thought I was fine. They told me to follow up in a year so they could keep an eye on it. I was busy and called ’em back about two years later; it took me months to get in. The doctor said that I needed open heart surgery and something called the Ross Procedure–a double transplant that uses my own tissue and cadaver tissue. He said some local doctors do the aortic valve surgery, but not often. He recommended going to the Cleveland Clinic where they do two of these surgeries a week. I was a little freaked out. He told me to come back in three months–March. But he called me the next day and had me return for another echo. My stenosis had already progressed to almost severe in a little over two years. Then I went from a pressure gradient of 32 to 39 in two months–40 is surgery. You can’t let your heart keep working like that when it gets to 40. I’m going to the Cleveland Clinic for surgery at the end of April.

I have every emotion. Do I want to have my breastbone cut open? No. But I’m excited because 50 years ago, we didn’t have the technology to take care of something like this. I have the hope of good results without all of the medication. I could have great energy and live another 20 or 30 years without problems. If the doctors hadn’t caught this, my valve would have closed up, and I could have died. 

I’m blessed that I work for the City of Mobile. I have a great job with great benefits, and other employees are giving me their days off so I won’t lose my job when I run out of leave time during recovery. Friends are having a bake sale, and there’s a GoFundMe to help cover the recovery expenses that insurance won’t cover, which are beyond my means. It’s humbling to ask for help and be on the receiving end. I’ve been through some pretty hard stuff being a single mom struggling to survive, but I’ve never had this much support. I can’t describe how all of this makes me feel.”

Lee

If you want to help Lee, here’s the link to her GoFundMe:bit.ly/4cFHFCj