Biskin Lee

GREAT NEWS! Biskin was TRANSPLANTED on March 4, 2016.

If you were to meet Biskin Lee, within an instant you would know she is a force of nature. She is compelling, and has every right to be – her life has been a great struggle, but with many hard-earned triumphs, and even more love. Case in point, there are simply not many people who can go through a myriad of cardiac procedures while attending the University of California, Berkeley on full academic scholarship, still graduate with High Honours, and keep her doctors and family laughing through it all. Regrettably, however, in the world of failing organs, sheer willpower and determination will only get you so far.

Biskin was born with a variety of different heart problems. Then, in 1994 she had emergency open-heart surgery at Oakland Children’s Hospital. Unfortunately, as can happen, numerous mistakes were made by her surgical team, and she had a series of heart attacks which left massive scarring along the walls of her heart. It then reacted as hearts do after such events, and grew larger and larger trying to compensate for the scarred heart tissues. Biskin’s large heart wasn’t just a physical characteristic, though; she forgave her surgical team and moved forward with her life, grateful for her care, and knowing that without the efforts of her doctors, she wouldn’t be alive.

After coasting through what’s known in the medical world as the “Honeymoon Period,” post heart-attack, Biskin collapsed in 2004. She then spent the next 9 years in and out of hospitals, all while continuing her studies. On June 30, 2013 she went to the emergency room at UCSF because she was continuously fainting with even the most mild of exertions, such as standing up. Her cardiologist decided she needed a left Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) implanted immediately, and on July 3, 2013 that is exactly what happened. And just in time – the entire bottom peak (apex) of her heart was calcified and was overall just “big and floppy”, to quote her cardiologist. Not what a girl wants to hear about any part of her body, let alone her heart!

Right now Biskin is fighting to getting back on her feet and ready for the next step: a heart transplant. Hopefully the transplant will happen within four to nine months, so while the VAD keeps her alive and her body attempts to prepare for its next great challenge, we can help her with the upcoming enormous financial burden.

So, to do this, we have established a fundraising campaign in Biskin’s honor through HelpHOPELive. They are a nonprofit organization that assists those who need, or who have had, transplants by covering medical costs that insurance doesn’t. Your donations to this fund are tax deductable and will be held and administered by the HelpHOPELive Southwest Heart Transplant Fund for transplant-related expenses only.
Biskin wants very much to continue expanding her invisible disabilities awareness campaign, finish her masters degree, obtain a PhD, go on to teach philosophy, play with her future nieces and nephews, enjoy her friends, family and darling puppers Ferdinand, and take a turn caring for her parents as they age. Let’s help make that happen!

Make checks payable to:
HelpHOPELive

Note in memo section:
In Honor of Biskin Lee

Mail to:
HelpHOPELive
Two Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087

For secure credit card donations:
Call 800.642.8399 or click the “DONATE NOW” button.

Donations-in-kind may be made by contacting [email protected].

Biskin and her family greatly appreciate all your love and positive thoughts. Your support and contributions will help Biskin survive this unbelievable challenge, and return to her productive life as soon as possible.

With love and hope,
The Lee Family and Friends