Erik Walter

Erik is a loving husband to his wife Kat of 20 years and a father to 3 beautiful children. Erik lived an active life until he was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure due to a genetic heart defect in 2022. This condition was managed for awhile with medication but ultimately led to him receiving a mechanical heart aka LVAD in 2024. He is now in need of a heart transplant and is currently listed as a status 4.

Erik enjoys being handy around the house and has been slowly renovating his 130 year old Victorian home, with his wife, for the last 8 years. An avid soccer fan and previous player he enjoys watching his kids play his favorite sport and has dabbled in coaching. A die hard Pittsburgh fan, he also roots for the Steelers and the Penguins and never misses watching them play. Erik is always making people laugh with his wit and charm and has been a bright light in the lives of everyone he has known.

Since Erik’s diagnosis and LVAD implantation, his renovating days have come to a halt. He quickly gets winded and has a difficult time with things that used to come easy. He struggles with daily pain and has trouble sleeping, so spends much of his days tired. He retains fluid at times and is self conscious about the 8lbs of batteries and controller he has to carry around with him at all times to power his LVAD.

Erik is fundraising for the uninsured expenses associated with his future transplant. Such as, relocating over 3 hours away for his surgery which requires a 3 month stay, (Eriks team estimates this will cost $8,000), possible insurance premiums and co-pays as he recently was layed off from his company and is only covered for the next 6 months. There is also a need for gas expenses to travel back and forth monthly for at least the first year after transplant.

Erik hopes that his heart transplant will allow him to get back to a normal life. He looks forward to resuming work as a corporate trainer and being active around the house again. Even just going swimming and taking a long shower will be a luxury.

Please donate to Help Hope Live in Erik’s honor today, and ask your friends and family to give too! We would love to plan some fundraisers in Erik’s honor, so if you can help with that please contact his wife Kat at [email protected]. Thank you for your generous support!