Stefan Gustafsson

I’m writing on behalf of my partner, Stefan Gustafsson. Besides being an incredible life partner, he is the loving and involved father of our four-year-old twins, Aria and Felix. He is also a talented designer, illustrator and musician, and sheds light on all who know him through his friendliness and hilarity.

As many of you know, he was diagnosed with heart disease several years ago which had been kept under control with medication and a no-salt diet. Unfortunately, his heart has weakened enough so that his only chance for survival is a heart transplant. We are lucky enough to be at Stanford hospital, where he is receiving excellent care.

In order to qualify for a transplant, one’s body must function enough to properly receive the heart. While in the hospital waiting for the transplant, his health declined so rapidly that he had to first undergo a surgery to receive an LVAD, a pump that does the work of his left ventricle. After six months of recovery from this open-heart surgery, he will again be put on the list for a transplant.

To add to the drama, Stefan was laid off in November last year, so though we have insurance, it comes at a steep price, exceeding $1700 each month. In addition to the LVAD surgery costs, we will face many uninsured transplant-related costs, so that funding this procedure will be a monumental task. The expenses will continue in the form of medications, co-pays, and doctor visits to ensure Stefan’s continued health and vitality.

To help with this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Stefan’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Southwest Heart Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.Stefan and his family feel very blessed with loving and supportive friends and family who help in so many ways. Your loving thoughts and contributions are truly treasured and will help us through this difficult time.

Thank you from all of us,
Stefan, Christine, Aria, and Felix