Annie Dekat

Back in August of 2025 I had a stroke. I was life lighted to KU Medical Center and my life was changed from that moment forward. While in the hospital, I found out I have a rare genetic disease that makes it so my heart doesn’t process cellular waste, making it extremely weak. Because of the Danons Disease, after I was discharged, we immediately started outpatient appointments to check up on my heart. I was informed that my heart was very sick and that I would need a heart transplant in the next two years to save my life. Over the next several months, I spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital and completing the mandatory evaluation for heart transplant. On December 25th, 2025, I came home on a continuous drip of a medication that aided my heart in pumping. On January 30th of 2026, I was hospitalized again and was surprised to hear that I needed to stay until they found a heart. On February 10th, I went in for a heart transplant.

I am humbled by the family and friends who have asked how they can help. I’m using Help Hope Live to fund the uninsured medical expenses associated. The donations raised via Help Hope Live will be tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.

Recovery is long and life looks like taking three steps forward and two steps back day in and day out. But with Help Hope Live, I am hopeful that a step forward can be taken in a manner that is continuous!