Tharina Petersen

sending love,,,,,,

Hey guys! I’ve always been told that my heart was tooooo bigI APPARENTLY THEY THINK I MAY NEED A NEW ONE.
I OBJECT!…well after years of taking care of myself, working and exercising..apparently a virus hit my heart 10 yearsish ago. This year (2020) started out fairly normal for me. Things started going downhill in February. I had changed jobs and was working in Rogers, Arkansas. I enjoyed this whole new life, being single, and starting a new chapter.
…..I started coughing and having what seemed to be allergy attacks. This coincided with the beginning of the Coronavirus or Covid-19 as it is also called.

I was sent home as customers were nervous being around me with my raspy voice and cough. I started having chest pains, headaches and was then sent for a Covid-19 test. The results came back negative but my blood pressure was extremely high so I was given medicine to try to bring it down.

Several months went by and I continued to struggle with allergy-type symptoms and extreme fatigue. I couldn’t sleep for very long at a time and coughing was keeping me awake.

I couldn’t return to work so I was stressed worrying about bills piling up and not being able to keep up with them.

In mid-May my first grandchild was born :-)))))) so I had recuperated enough to travel several hours to visit with my daughter & son-in-law in Missouri and meet my new grandson. What a tremendous joy! I love being a Grandma!

In early June I woke up in the middle of the night with extreme chest pains and shortness of breath. A friend drove me to the hospital where I was admitted and four days later learned I had serious medical problems.

I had been through all sorts of tests and to my shock was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure and Sleep Apnea! I had no idea what some of these things even were! The most shocking piece of news was that I was now a candidate for a heart transplant!

I was told I could not work for probably at least a year and to immediately apply for Disability. I have been isolated at home because my immune system is so extremely compromised.

This condition causes me to retain fluid so I was prescribed diuretics that keep me on the run to the bathroom every few hours. I am also now on many other medications that make me foggy-brained, sweaty and sleepy. I have to keep the air conditioning at 65 degrees but I’m still miserably hot sometimes.

Every day has been a struggle to maintain my sanity while trying to complete forms & handle phone interviews applying for grants for rent and utility bill payments. In addition to keeping up with scheduling doctor and hospital appointments. I was always a very organized individual and now I am having trouble remembering what day it is.

I have been groggy and sometimes sleep nearly 18 hours a day but still wake up tired. Dark circles around my eyes have become a permanent fixture.

In mid-September I was tested for Sleep Apnea equipment and I am looking forward to getting started using it. My snoring is so bad I have been waking myself up with the noise. It’s a toss-up to see who snores loudest – me or my dog Zion.

I have now been assigned a coordinator with the transplant center in Kansas City and will continue with the tests required prior to actually going there.

I know I still have a long way to go to get through this struggle and get back to good health but I have so much to live for.

I have been encouraged by good wishes, prayers, messages, etc. from family and friends. Thank you all for being on this journey with me! I talk to God daily and trust he has my best interest at heart.

thank you everyone….this is the most humbling experience of my life!

Family and friends of Tharina Petersen are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

Tharina has chosen to fundraiser for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax destructibility 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.

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

Thank you for your support!