Carmen Collette

Dear Friends and Family

I have great news to share with you. February 19th I received the gift of life. I had a heart transplant at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

For many years I suffered from heart failure. Six years ago I had surgery to install a defibrillator/pacemaker which had limited ability to keep my heart going. In June, 2009, I was placed on the waiting list for a heart transplant at Johns Hopkins Hospital and on February 17, 2010 I had surgery to have a LVAD (Left Ventricle Assist Device), often referred to as a bionic device. This past February, I had a heart transplant. I received the gift of life. I am truly blessed.

I am a single mother of 2 adopted children, both with special needs. My son Carlos is now 18, and my daughter Imani is now 14. Both are attending high school. I am a United Methodist Pastor presently on disability. It is my hope that I will be able to return to work and service in the future. I am looking forward to regaining my independence, being able to do many of the things I used to enjoy and reaching out to help others in the future.

Because of the enormous costs for transplantation, funding the uninsured expenses related to my transplant is the next challenge—a challenge I can not meet alone. This creates a great hardship for my family. I am hoping for prayer, help and support from all of my friends, family and community.

A fundraising campaign in my honor has been established with HelpHOPELive (HelpHOPELive). HelpHOPELive is a nonprofit organization that has provided fundraising assistance to the transplant community for more than 28 years. For those who are able and would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to help me:I would like you all to know that I love life and I want to live to rear my children to adulthood and to contribute more to my church and community.

With sincere heartfelt gratitude,

Carmen Collette
301-972-9243
[email protected]