Jessica M. Martinez
Thank you so much for taking a look at my page! I have been raising money for the Larry King Cardiac Foundation since September 2009. Here is a little background and why I want to help the foundation.
I was born with a heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, basically there were four defects. I had open heart surgery after birth and then at the age of 2. My life was pretty normal though and I was relatively healthy. The trouble started when I was 12 years old; I had chest pains and difficulty breathing after a basketball game. My cardiologist told me that my pulmonary valve was leaking and one side of my heart was getting larger. Afterward, I was not allowed to play sports anymore, but life went on as usual. Every year that I went to the cardiologist I was expecting the news that I would need surgery; it did not come. It was not until I started college that the real trouble began. I was getting sick more frequently and every time it would take me longer to recover. A simple cold would turn into very bad bronchitis and such. Also, I started having these "episodes" where I would feel like I was going to pass out, shaking, feeling nauseous, heart racing, heart palpitations, etc. Eventually, I was told that I needed to have my pulmonary valve replaced.
The surgery was on January 12, 2009. The surgery went well, but when I was in ICU both of my lungs collapsed-I almost did not make it, but thank goodness I did! It was a very difficult time for me, as well as my family. There were other complications and on top of that, I was in a tremendous amount of pain. I did not take any painkillers, because they made me feel so nauseous that I decided to take the pain. Man, it was terrible! The recovery was very long and it was the worst time in my life-not only physically but emotionally. I have always tried to be a positive, happy person, but this tested me. I truly learned the meaning of "that which does not kill you makes you stronger". Luckily, now I feel stronger than ever.
In July 2009, I had to have a catheterization to see if my surgery had fixed a problem that was causing my heart to go into dangerous and potentially fatal rhythms. Instead of a catheterization, my doctor decided to give me a St. Jude Medical Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator. It would shock my heart when there were dangerous rhythms. His words were, "Jessica, your heart condition is very tricky. You can be fine one day and the next day you can have a heart attack and die." So I agreed, put it in!
The surgery went well and I was adjusting to a life where you have to make sure cell phones and laptops were away from the ICD, making sure not to be around magnetic fields, wondering if certain things may interfere with it, and just feeling a foreign object in your body. A few weeks later (a week before I was going to go back to school) I had to rush to UAB because the incision seemed infected. The doctor decided to remove the ICD and I would get a new one at a later date.
A short time later, I was put on bed rest due to the incision having difficulty healing. I started reflecting on the past 8 months and my life in general-I have had several close calls. I felt so lucky to have gone through all these things and I was still here. I knew that I was here because I was meant to do something. That is when I knew I had to help others. I started searching and that is when I found the Larry King Cardiac Foundation. I instantly knew that I wanted to help! This foundation was helping others like me.
I received a new ICD in October 2009 and the surgery and recovery went smoothly. It has now been 3 years since my last surgery and I feel better than I have in a long time. I have learned to appreciate everything, even being able to take a breath without being in immense pain. I had a few hospital visits last summer, but to my surprise-I found out the ICD has a pacemaker! I had no idea, no one told me! My heart was beating very slow and the pacemaker prevented it from going below 40 beats per minute. The doctor told me that he did not know what would have happened if I did not have the ICD. So, the ICD has already saved my life numerous times.
This foundation has given me something in my life that I might not have found without it. It has not only given me the chance to help others, but it has given me the opportunity to see first hand the people that have had life-saving surgeries. I was very fortunate to have insurance, but I was almost in the same position as those that the LKCF helps. When my mom informed her job that she would have to take time off for my surgery, she was fired. We were faced with the possibility of not having insurance. Thankfully, a couple weeks before the surgery I was able to get Cobra.
It is a truly amazing feeling to know that in a small way, you have changed someone's life. The LKCF has given me a purpose in my life and helped me realize my true passion for helping.
If you could donate $1, $5, $50, or any amount it would be greatly appreciated. Every little bit helps. Not only will you help save a life, you will be giving a person the chance to have a new life like I was given.
Thank you so much for your time and for your donation! You're awesome! Have a great day!
Love,
Jessica
I was born with a heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, basically there were four defects. I had open heart surgery after birth and then at the age of 2. My life was pretty normal though and I was relatively healthy. The trouble started when I was 12 years old; I had chest pains and difficulty breathing after a basketball game. My cardiologist told me that my pulmonary valve was leaking and one side of my heart was getting larger. Afterward, I was not allowed to play sports anymore, but life went on as usual. Every year that I went to the cardiologist I was expecting the news that I would need surgery; it did not come. It was not until I started college that the real trouble began. I was getting sick more frequently and every time it would take me longer to recover. A simple cold would turn into very bad bronchitis and such. Also, I started having these "episodes" where I would feel like I was going to pass out, shaking, feeling nauseous, heart racing, heart palpitations, etc. Eventually, I was told that I needed to have my pulmonary valve replaced.
The surgery was on January 12, 2009. The surgery went well, but when I was in ICU both of my lungs collapsed-I almost did not make it, but thank goodness I did! It was a very difficult time for me, as well as my family. There were other complications and on top of that, I was in a tremendous amount of pain. I did not take any painkillers, because they made me feel so nauseous that I decided to take the pain. Man, it was terrible! The recovery was very long and it was the worst time in my life-not only physically but emotionally. I have always tried to be a positive, happy person, but this tested me. I truly learned the meaning of "that which does not kill you makes you stronger". Luckily, now I feel stronger than ever.
In July 2009, I had to have a catheterization to see if my surgery had fixed a problem that was causing my heart to go into dangerous and potentially fatal rhythms. Instead of a catheterization, my doctor decided to give me a St. Jude Medical Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator. It would shock my heart when there were dangerous rhythms. His words were, "Jessica, your heart condition is very tricky. You can be fine one day and the next day you can have a heart attack and die." So I agreed, put it in!
The surgery went well and I was adjusting to a life where you have to make sure cell phones and laptops were away from the ICD, making sure not to be around magnetic fields, wondering if certain things may interfere with it, and just feeling a foreign object in your body. A few weeks later (a week before I was going to go back to school) I had to rush to UAB because the incision seemed infected. The doctor decided to remove the ICD and I would get a new one at a later date.
A short time later, I was put on bed rest due to the incision having difficulty healing. I started reflecting on the past 8 months and my life in general-I have had several close calls. I felt so lucky to have gone through all these things and I was still here. I knew that I was here because I was meant to do something. That is when I knew I had to help others. I started searching and that is when I found the Larry King Cardiac Foundation. I instantly knew that I wanted to help! This foundation was helping others like me.
I received a new ICD in October 2009 and the surgery and recovery went smoothly. It has now been 3 years since my last surgery and I feel better than I have in a long time. I have learned to appreciate everything, even being able to take a breath without being in immense pain. I had a few hospital visits last summer, but to my surprise-I found out the ICD has a pacemaker! I had no idea, no one told me! My heart was beating very slow and the pacemaker prevented it from going below 40 beats per minute. The doctor told me that he did not know what would have happened if I did not have the ICD. So, the ICD has already saved my life numerous times.
This foundation has given me something in my life that I might not have found without it. It has not only given me the chance to help others, but it has given me the opportunity to see first hand the people that have had life-saving surgeries. I was very fortunate to have insurance, but I was almost in the same position as those that the LKCF helps. When my mom informed her job that she would have to take time off for my surgery, she was fired. We were faced with the possibility of not having insurance. Thankfully, a couple weeks before the surgery I was able to get Cobra.
It is a truly amazing feeling to know that in a small way, you have changed someone's life. The LKCF has given me a purpose in my life and helped me realize my true passion for helping.
If you could donate $1, $5, $50, or any amount it would be greatly appreciated. Every little bit helps. Not only will you help save a life, you will be giving a person the chance to have a new life like I was given.
Thank you so much for your time and for your donation! You're awesome! Have a great day!
Love,
Jessica
