Rachelle Munsch

My name is Rachelle, and I live in Manhattan, Kansas. I was born with a heart defect, but for most of my life—aside from some physical limitations—I was able to live what felt like a normal, full life.

In early 2025, everything changed. We learned that the heart valve I received as a child has begun to fail. As a result, I’ve also been diagnosed with cardiac cirrhosis, which is causing my liver to fail. After many tests, procedures, and consultations, my medical team determined that a combined heart and liver transplant is my best option for long-term survival.

Over the past year, my health has declined rapidly. I now struggle with shortness of breath that leads to dizziness, and I require home oxygen at night and with any physical activity—even everyday tasks like cooking or putting away dishes. Because my liver is no longer functioning properly, I also experience poor coordination, memory issues, confusion, trouble sleeping, and tremors in my hands. The exhaustion is constant.

The emotional toll has been just as heavy. I’ve always taken pride in being intelligent, organized, independent, and capable. Creativity and art have been lifelong passions and an outlet for me. As my symptoms have progressed, many of the things that made me feel like me have been limited or taken away. Some days, I feel helpless and guilty for the emotional and financial burden my illness has placed on my family.

On top of everything, the cost of transplant care has been overwhelming. Even with insurance and disability benefits, we are facing thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket medical expenses, in addition to everyday living costs.

What keeps me going is my family. My husband is my best friend and has stood by my side through every appointment, procedure, and sleepless night. My 7-year-old stepson has a heart big enough for all three of us. We love watching movies, football, and nature and history documentaries together. We enjoy trips to the zoo, swimming, board games, video games—and they never complain about helping me eat my cooking and baking.

I want more time with them. More memories. More life.

We are humbly asking for help with medical-related expenses so we can focus on getting through this difficult season and move toward recovery. Any support—whether through a donation, sharing our story, or helping with fundraising efforts—means more than we can express.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for being part of our journey