Terri Surratt

Terri Needs a Heart Transplant and Your Help

Terri is a 32 year old woman who is striving to live a normal life. Her journey started when she was 12 years old going to many doctors and going through several tests trying to reach a diagnosis. The doctors at that time decided she had Mini-Core disease. However, with advances in medical technology, we were told this year that she has Titin’s disease and that she will need a heart transplant.

Titin’s disease was identified around 2014 and it affects the skeletal muscles and sometimes the heart and the lungs. Terri’s disease has progressed to include her heart causing cardiomyopathy. Terri strives to work every day but there are days that can be tough. She has been lucky to have understanding employers who try to accommodate her; however, her heart is getting weaker and the only way to fix the problem is with a new one.

She went through the Heart Transplant Evaluation in 2016, but was rejected due to being too well after several tests. In the last year, Terri’s CHF has worsened. She had a PVC ablation in January 2019. During the ablation the surgeon discovered that a lot of her PVCs were caused due to scar tissue developed from having CHF. Terri’s pacemaker was updated to a defibrillator during the procedure to prevent any dangerous heart rates. After having complications from the ablation and physicians realizing how her CHF has progressed, the Heart Transplant Team have started their evaluation again to determine which part of the list Terri should be placed on.

A new heart would not only allow Terri to return to work, which she loves, but to have a much more normal life. She has a degree in Health Information Management, a dog named Lady, and a Bearded Dragon named Shredder. Terri’s dad, I, and other family members are committed to support her through this transplant.

Transplants are lifesaving, but they can drain you financially. Even with insurance, Terri is facing very high expenses including relocating for three months to Nashville, TN to be closer to Vanderbilt University Hospital, post-transplant medications of up to $1,500 a month for the rest of her life, co-pays, lab fees and more.

We, as a family have always been there for Terri; however this financial challenge is more than we can handle alone. So, I ask for you to help with the financial burden of Terri’s uninsured transplant related expenses. A fundraising campaign in her honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live in the South-Atlantic Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider making a contribution.

Thank you for your prayers, support and generosity.

Gratefully,

Teresa Surratt, Terri’s Mom