Jennifer Black

I am a single mother facing end-stage heart disease after surviving cardiac arrest and receiving an ICD. I am now preparing for a life-saving heart transplant that requires me to relocate to Salt Lake City, Utah for approximately six months. I am seeking help to cover lodging and basic living expenses after exhausting my savings and retirement funds, so I can focus on recovery and being here for my 14-year-old son.

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Hello,

My name is Jennifer, and I am a single mother to a wonderful 14-year-old son.

In 2015, I was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy (HOCM), a condition where the heart muscle thickens and makes it difficult for the heart to properly fill and pump blood. To treat this, I underwent open-heart surgery called a septal myectomy, where part of the thickened heart muscle was removed.

That surgery gave me my life back. For eight years, I felt healthy again, returned to work, and was able to fully enjoy life with my son.

In 2023, my symptoms began to return. I started experiencing episodes of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which required multiple cardioversions to restore normal rhythm. I then underwent a cardiac ablation, which successfully treated the AFib.

Unfortunately, my symptoms did not improve. I developed extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, and worsening heart function. After extensive testing and many doctor visits, I was diagnosed with diastolic heart failure, sometimes referred to as “heart stiffness disease.”

As my condition progressed, I was referred to the University Medical Center for advanced heart failure care.

On May 9, 2025, I experienced a cardiac arrest. It was a life-threatening event that changed everything for me and my family. During my hospitalization, I had an ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) placed to help protect me from future dangerous heart rhythms.

Despite these interventions, my condition continued to worsen. After two weeks in the hospital undergoing extensive testing, I was transferred to the heart transplant team for evaluation and care.

Today, I am preparing for a much-needed heart transplant that offers me hope for more time and a future with my son.

My transplant team requires me to relocate to Salt Lake City, Utah for approximately six months so I can remain close to the hospital before and after surgery for monitoring, recovery, and ongoing care.

I am seeking to raise $25,000, which will help cover approximately $2,000 per month for lodging, as well as transportation, food, and basic living expenses during this time.

Asking for help is not easy for me. I have always worked hard and taken pride in providing for my family. I have used my savings and cashed out my 401(k) to cover medical expenses, but the cost of relocating for life-saving care is more than I can manage alone.

Your support will allow me to focus fully on my health, my recovery, and being here for my son for as long as possible.

If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser would mean just as much to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any support you can offer during this difficult time.

With gratitude,