Celebration of Life: Maariyah’s 1-year Heart-a-versary Fundraiser is inspired by my journey through heart-failure and transplantation. In December of 2018 I was suddenly diagnosed with heart failure. I was a healthy, active 20-year-old who had a cough on Dec 4, 2018. On Dec 7, I felt intense pain in my chest, and I was having trouble breathing. So much so, that I was taken to the local hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia. After 24 hours, the antibiotics weren't helping. My parents then took me to Toronto General Hospital, where within 45 minutes, a cardiologist diagnosed me with heart failure. From being admitted to the CICU, to undergoing my first open-heart surgery for the installation of a BI-VAD machine to do the work for my heart, it became apparent that I needed a heart transplant. I received the gift of life and was blessed with a heart transplant on Christmas Eve 2018. My family and I are very fortunate and blessed for this second chance at life and would like to contribute back by raising awareness and funds for organ donation and transplant research.I'm raising money in support of the work of Toronto General and Toronto Western Hospitals in the Transplant department.
When you donate to my personal fundraising page, you are helping to fund the groundbreaking research, state-of-the-art technology and world-class medical leaders that make our exceptional health care possible.
Please make a gift today!
Thank you! Love, Maariyah.