On September 23, 2008 Kelli had surgery to remove a suspect bad gall bladder.  While members of her family waited in the recovery waiting room for results of her surgery, they got the horrifying news that what started as a routine surgery, had just become a nightmare beyond anyone’s expectation.

It was reported that after surgery, Kelli coded in the recovery room, suffering from congestive heart failure.  As more family members were contacted and arrived on scene – the news only grew worse.  The doctor’s were not certain what was going on with Kelli.  They informed us that she was being kept alive by machines and that they could offer little hope at this time to the outcome of her condition.

After four days in a coma, the doctor’s continued to express “guarded optimism” as they began to see small improvements in Kelli’s condition, however they still could not say for certain without removing her from the machines just what her true condition was.  Kelli was eventually diagnosed with “dilated cardiomyopathy.”

The doctors became concerned that Kelli had developed a fever and were contemplating the need to transport her to a facility that specialized in cardiac care.  As the hours passed by the doctors and family held out for a miracle – and hours later, it came.  Kelli’s fever fell and the doctor’s decided to use this miraculous window of opportunity to remove her from the machines and see how she would respond on her own.

To everyone’s utter astonishment, Kelli responded.  She was breathing and functioning without the aid of the machines.  Kelli’s improvement from here was rapid.  She was soon moved from ICU to a private room in PCU where her condition continued to improve, however, it was certain that she would only improve so far and that a heart transplant was probably going to be needed as her heart only has a 9% ejection fraction making the probability of treating her condition with medicines not possible.

Within days after being removed from the machines, Kelli was released from the hospital and referred to cardiac specialists where it was determined for certain that she would need a heart transplant. 

Kelli was implanted with an ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) and then later was placed on a continuous IV infusion, with which she remains today awaiting transplant. 

While Kelli is at home and mobile, she is restricted to an extremely low sodium diet, is on a daily cocktail of prescription medicines to regulate her heart condition along with the continual IV drip.  To the appearance one might often wonder how there could be anything wrong as she seems to carry on in a “normal” manner with an attitude of great optimism and hope.  Yet, she tires easily and must continually guard herself against risk of illness.

Kelli is truly grateful to the amazing team of doctors who have taken her life so delicately into their hands.  And she is likewise unspeakably grateful to the love and support of her family and friends and stands is awe of the open generosity and kindness of so many people, near and far who have given  money, time, words of comfort and most importantly their PRAYERS! 

There are no words to express the comforting assurance that she feels with the knowledge that prayers are being offered without ceasing on her behalf. And she openly testifies that it is by these prayers which hold her continually in petition before God that she is here today, sustained and able to do so well physically and emotionally.   It’s been a truly amazing experience to watch the continual circle of God’s love embrace everyone touched by this tragedy turned blessing. 

Thank you to all for the multitude of blessings and the love you have showered upon Kelli and her family.  Please stay in touch with this website and we will keep everyone up-to-date on Kelli’s journey through this “Change of Heart”.  And may God add his blessings to each and all. 

  Your’s truly,

Kelli & Family