As most of you know, I’ve had a really rough postpartum battling severe postpartum depression and anxiety. Zavier and I graduated from Swedish Outpatient Perinatal Bonding and Support group where we went Monday through Thursday, 9am-330pm, for 4 weeks. Unfortunately, I lost my health insurance after that, was off medication for a month, and it just got worse to the point I ended up at Overlake Inpatient Mental Health for a week which included my first Mother’s Day alone in the hospital without even a FaceTime from Zavier. Yes, that’s a lot to overcome, and I’m still working very hard, but that was only one piece of my postpartum struggles being a single first time mother. What I haven’t shared is that for the past year, I’ve been followed closely by cardiology with all sorts of cardiac testing from multiple echocardiograms, a CT Scan and MRI, heart catheterization, and a transesophageal echocardiogram. Long story short, on November 17th, 2021, I now have to undergo open heart surgery for isolated tricuspid valve replacement and a permanent pacemaker placed. This is for torrential (worse than severe) tricuspid regurgitation and severe annular dilatation. The doctors aren’t 100% sure why it’s so severe, but they do know it’s severe enough that I needed this semi-urgently. I was born with tricuspid regurgitation, but did you know, when you’re pregnant your blood volume increase around 1/2 by the time you give birth?! 50% more blood volume your heart has to pump from increase cardiac demands! So the Cardiothoracic surgeon believes it put an additional strain on my heart. I mean I grew a whole magical human in Zavier! Just from what the Cardiothoracic surgeon knows now, there’s a risk to intervention of 10-20% and a risk of mortality of 2-5%. I’m at very high risk postoperatively for increase cardiac dysfunction, liver and kidney insufficiency, and delayed/prolonged sternal healing and coming off the ventilator or bypass. Initially, if all goes best case scenario, I’ll have a week long stay in the hospital (as of now, alone due to covid), and a 4-6 (maybe 8) week recoup time postoperatively. Long story of surgery. I have isolated tricuspid regurgitation and annular dilatation. The Cardiothoracic surgeon will be trying for a repair (as it has a lower risk), but most likely will be a valve replacement with bio prosthetic valve. (Pig valve!) I also will have a permanent pacemaker placed due to electrical issues with my heart from a bundle branch block (BBB). Unfortunately, surgery remains the only definitive treatment but there’s a moderate mortality rate for the surgery because it’s fairly rare. Only about 5,000 of these surgeries are done yearly in the US. I know we’ve all been hit hard with Covid and life itself, but I’m becoming my most vulnerable self asking for this help. I’ve been on disability for a year now while only making 66% of my previous wages (in addition to have been placed on unpaid furloughed prior to birth and not qualifying for unemployment because how the hospital worked around.) Ultimately, I need to know Zavier will be taken care of if anything happens to me, but he will need care while I’m recouping. I’m currently seeking out a 2 bedroom apartment because our small one bedroom will not hold Zaviers growth, my recouping, Zaviers father (who will be staying with him majority of the time), or other friends/my mom who have stepped up to help out. I don’t have a washer and dryer, so cost of laundry days is increasing. There will be medical bills, which I’m sure will include unexpected medical bills and/or medication that arise. Or gawd forbid, I lose my health insurance again at the end of the year. In addition, I’m sure there will be Uber rides for myself, Zavier, and his dad (who doesn’t drive) as not everyone will always be available, and any unexpected car repairs as mileage is getting up there and only reliable transportation for my family. If at all possible, I’m hoping for a new couch/recliner to assist with my recovery, in addition to a new mattress/bed frame. I’m unable to lift over 10lbs and can’t use my arms to get up or down because of the sternal plate that will be placed to close me up. I know it’s a lot to ask for, but I’d like to have the least amount of monetary pressure for myself and Zavier going into this. If you’d like to help out in any other way you can, please reach out to me. Thank you for reading this all and supporting us. Venmo - @Liggy05 Cashapp - $liggyfig PayPal - @liggyfox Zelle & Apple Pay