Bart Mitchell

Bart had a catastrophic widow maker heart attack while out of state for work. He was life flighted to UPMC in Pittsburgh and after many, many intense days, he was approved for a heart transplant. Unfortunately, he could not live long enough to wait for one, so he was rushed to surgery to have an LVAD placed. The machine would pump his blood (so he had no heartbeat) to increase his chances of surviving until transplant. Unfortunately, he developed severe complications from it (and it was later factory recalled). After a year of waiting, a compatible heart was found. Although he received a new heart, new complications arose and damage from the LVAD remained.

So while we thought a heart transplant would be the end of our journey, it was actually the beginning. The hospital social worker explained that no one has enough savings for a heart transplant and we would need to fundraise. We’ve actually had to have 5 surgeries and countless procedures and the expenses of those have been astronomical along with his ongoing medical care and daily medication costs, not to mention having a transplant team far from home.

After years of this journey, our van has become unreliable. Despite regular maintenance, we’ve poured thousands of dollars into it and it still has stranded us. We have broken down many times (even though we carry a battery jumper pack) including 5 times during our last trip to the transplant team (and needed to be towed) and it has caused us to miss an appointment with a transplant doctor in Pennsylvania, miss an appointment with a doctor at home, to be late for a crucially timed lab causing us to reschedule, and even stranded us after an appointment with Mayo and AAA refused to help because the outer bands of Hurricane Ian were beginning to arrive.

Bart is unable to help. He can’t help when the vans breaks down and he can’t help by lifting his wheelchair. His wheelchair weighs 65 pounds. I have to lift it by myself and it has wrenched my back several times and hurt my leg several times as it has slipped though my hands and banged into my thigh.

The great need before us now is a new van. The only way this is possible is through fundraising. We need a van that will get us to our many local appointments as well as one that will get us to our transplant team (nearly a thousand miles away). Bart cannot drive and has to travel with his caregiver, wheelchair, service dog, medical equipment, medical supplies, and medication so we are looking for a full sized van with an Under Vehicle Lift to best meet our needs. This will also allow Bart to lie down in the back on long drives to help with his constant dizziness, nausea, and to avoid thrombosis. The lift will allow him to enter the van in his wheelchair without me ever having to lift it.

We for sure need help fundraising. I have been quoted from 85,000 to 120,000 for this. We will Fundraise through Help Hope Live which allows tax donations for donors and the assurance that each donation will go toward a verified medical need.

Thank you so very much for your love, help, prayers, and support. This has indeed been, as a transplant doctor has described, a “long and arduous journey” and we for sure could not do it without you.

Family and friends of Bart Mitchell are raising money to pay for medical expenses associated with transplantation.

Bart has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for donors. Donors can be sure that funds donated will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Donate Now button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!