Lilyian Steele

4/21/2024 LILYIAN NEEDS YOUR HELP!!

Who this will help:
This is my Mom, Lilyian Steele. She was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2014 when she was 34 years old. There has been a 10 year stretch since she was originally diagnosed and the Doctor’s have done all that could possibly be done and the medication is no longer managing her condition. She will be undergoing open heart surgery to implant an LVAD (left ventricular assist device) on her heart. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ventricular-assist-device/about/pac-20384529

Why we are fundraising:
Successful LVAD implantation will drastically improve my Mom’s quality of life and prolong her life expectancy. We are so thankful she qualifies for this procedure. However, the surgery is complicated, and the recovery period is long. Once surgery is complete, she will have to stay in the area after she is released from ICU and the to access treatment.

The impact of your support:
The post surgery out-of-pocket expenses that pose heavy concerns for us are three months of housing accommodations near the Hospital and during my Mom’s Rehab period, which will include follow-up appointments, LVAD monitoring, and physical therapy as well as the sterile dressing change kit, foley anchors, extra bandages to cover the area outside the gauze pads under the driveline. Her insurance does not cover most of these medical expenses.

Once she is release to home in Enid, the medical bills will start rolling in. As you can imagine, this type of life-saving surgery is incredibly expensive. Not only will Mom have bills associated with her surgery and hospital stay, she will also have the recurring expenses of maintaining her LVAD, including wound care items, bandages, cleaning supplies, and adaptive clothing to accommodate the LVAD tubes and batteries.

We did not have an easy time deciding whether to proceed with this surgery. We also did not have an easy time deciding to make this request for financial assistance. But tough times require tough decisions.

We are all incredibly grateful for any assistance you feel moved to provide to help Us alleviate one of the biggest stressors associated with a life-altering medical diagnosis and treatment plan. We want my Mom to be able to focus primarily on her healing.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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Team fundraiser:
Frances Howard, Cedric Turner, Trejonn Trigg and Lanica Steele are organizing this fundraiser.

Our family and friends are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live in Lilyian’s honor to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

Lilyian has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the GIVE button. Please share her campaign page on your social media platforms. Every donation helps.

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

Thank you for your support!