Sandy Wiley

Sandy Wiley (aka Sandy Armstrong) is a 52-year-old woman who is extremely ill. For the last 18 years, she has been dealing with cardiomyopathy. Prior to her diagnosis, she was active and healthy and never smoked. Sandy was told two years ago that her only hope for a healthy life would be a heart transplant, and as a result, she has been on the active heart transplant list for two years. Her health continues to decline and she is currently a Status 1B. Sandy now receives intravenous cardiac medications 24/7, directly into her right ventricle, via an IV port in her chest. Sandy not only needs a heart – she needs our help.

Sandy has always enjoyed pretty much any outside activity: camping, working in the yard, motorcycling (dirt and street) and fishing (catching, someone else gets to clean them!). From Eugene, OR, she attended Willamette H.S., playing softball, basketball and soccer. After graduation, she enlisted in the Army, was stationed in Germany where she met her husband, Marty, at a rodeo – they have two daughters and two grandchildren. After the Army, Sandy held several different jobs before spending 10 years at Dell, Inc. Due to her worsening condition she had to take disability and limit her activities. Anyone who knows my sister, knows how hard that has been for her. Sandy eagerly looks forward to being able to return to work and get back to living — her family is committed to seeing her through this transplant.

Organ transplants are life-saving, but financially draining. Even with insurance, Sandy will have many uninsured transplant-related expenses such as: co-pays and deductibles, travel and temporary relocation housing for herself and her caregiver to be near the transplant center and the costly immunosuppressant medications that she will need to take for the rest of her life ($2000/month).

To help with the financial burden of Sandy’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in her honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a trusted non-profit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the South-Central Heart Transplant Fund, and administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider a contribution today and click the DONATE NOW button.

Thank you for your prayers, support and generosity. Keep an eye on this campaign page because we will be planning some fundraising events, and posting updates regularly. I thank you from the bottom of my heart (which I would give to her if I could).

Shirley A. Palmer (Armstrong), Sandy’s big sister