*UPDATE - On August 20, 2024, after a month in the hospital, Stella was offered a donor heart and underwent heart transplant surgery. Her daughter, Natalie, calls this her second birthday. The doctors have labeled Stella's surgery as "successful," but she is still under critical watch. We all can't wait until she wakes up and begins her cardiac rehab. Stella has continued to be a warrior throughout the last month. Several weeks ago, she had an Impella heart pump surgically implanted, which is a device with an electric motor to manually pump her heart. She remained in the ICU until her heart transplant surgery. Please continue to keep Stella and her family in your thoughts and prayers.* To know Stella is to love her, because she treats you like family from the second you meet her. If you don't know Stella, she is a mommy, a wife, a sister, a daughter, an amazing friend, la mejor vecina, and one of the kindest and most generous people you'll ever meet. She would do anything to help others, and now is our opportunity to help her. In 2024, at the age of 36, Stella began having unexplained heart problems. As doctors struggled to correctly diagnose her, she began a long and difficult medical journey that included multiple hospital admissions, surgeries, cardiac implants, and medications. This left her unable to work (and if you know Stella, she is a worker) as she tried to focus on recovery, but her heart issues continued to advance. She was finally connected with the cardiology team at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, where she was diagnosed with LMNA Cardiomyopathy and End Stage Heart Failure. She has now been dealing with this for over three years. Her doctors have tried everything - medication after medication - but her condition has continued to worsen. She knew that her future would include a full heart transplant, but we didn't know it would be needed this soon. After some scary medical episodes in the last few weeks, Stella's amazing heart transplant team at the Mayo Clinic has decided to expedite her heart transplant. She will be admitted to the hospital where she will wait her turn on the heart transplant waiting list. We don't know how long she might have to wait, but as soon as a donor heart is available, she will undergo heart transplant surgery at a moments notice. Her devoted husband, Duglas, has been taking care of her for the last three years, along with her daughter, Natalie, her son, Nico, and her parents, Sylvia and Guillermo. The Lunas are currently in Jacksonville to be with Stella as she awaits her surgery. After the surgery, she will have to undergo cardiac rehabilitation. We know that Stella will continue to be her spunky self as she continues to fight this diagnosis. I want to share a personal story about Stella. When I was diagnosed with cancer in my 20's, I had a surgical port placement where my chemo would be administered. As I awaited my chemo start date, the doctors told me that I had to stay healthy, otherwise, my treatment would have to be delayed. As luck would have it, my husband came down with a sickness. Not only could he not care for me after my surgery, but I was also terrified it would postpone my treatment. Without even thinking about it, Stella moved me into her house. She set up a room for me where I could rest. She brought me my medications. She cooked for me. She helped me shower. She comforted me in one of the scariest times of my life. And she kept me healthy so I could begin my treatment as scheduled. This is the kind of person she is. Please consider giving anything to this wonderful woman to help ease the financial burden that comes with this type of medical diagnosis. No amount is too small. Your donation will help her focus on the only thing that matters - getting better! I promise you, there is no better way you can spend your money. We love you, Stella.
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