Ruth Cruz is a single mother of four grown daughters, a good friend to many and a church member. She was unfortunately diagnosed with congestive heart failure back in 1998. She has had to stop working as a result of her worsening condition. Today, Ruth is disabled. As her condition deteriorated she required a defibrillator, three-line-pacer and now a heart pump surgically implanted on May of 2012. It is now evident to her doctors from the University of Virginia Health System that she must have a heart transplant to survive.

Even with health insurance, Ruth’s out-of-pocket expenses are astronomical. She has been told in order to be placed on the heart transplant waiting list she needs to raise $2500 for the initial post-transplant anti-rejection medications alone. Ruth will need to take these medications for the rest of her life. Some of her other out-of-pocket expenses are travel, lodging and copays. Fundraising is essential to the overall success of Ruth’s outcome.

To help with these expenses, a fundraising campaign in Ruth’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive (formerly NTAF), a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for nearly 30 years. All donations are tax deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the South-Atlantic Heart Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Your good wishes and generosity are truly treasured and will help Ruth through this difficult time.

With love and appreciation,

Luz Morales, 540-831-9226
Ruth’s daughter