Hello everyone,
We wanted to share an update on our beloved Cassie as she continues her fight at the Ohio State University – Ross Heart Hospital ICU. As many of you know, this journey began unexpectedly one week ago today.
On Friday, April 11th, Cassie underwent scheduled elective open-heart surgery to repair a bicuspid aortic valve. During the procedure, she experienced a tragic and sudden complete heart failure. Despite efforts including a triple bypass surgery, her heart muscle was sadly deemed non-viable, and she was placed on ECMO (a form of life support) to sustain her.
By April 13th, Cassie was placed on the heart transplant list and fast-tracked due to the urgency of her condition. We experienced the emotional rollercoaster of this process when an initial donor match on April 14th unfortunately couldn’t proceed due to donor complications. Hope was renewed on April 15th when another match was found, deemed viable, and approved by Cassie’s surgeon that evening. The new heart arrived late that night, and the transplant surgery began.
In the early hours of April 16th (around 1:43 AM), we received the wonderful news that the transplant surgery was successful. Later that day, Cassie showed encouraging signs, remaining stable and even opening her eyes for the first time since the initial surgery, with her new heart functioning at 100%. However, this journey continues to have its challenges. That evening (around 9:45 PM), Cassie experienced a cardiac arrest lasting approximately four minutes. She was stabilized and placed back on partial ECMO for heart and lung support.
Early on April 17th, another complication arose when Cassie developed compartment syndrome in her left leg – a condition involving dangerous pressure buildup. She underwent an emergency fasciotomy procedure to relieve the pressure. This procedure confirmed significant muscle damage, and the doctors are concerned about the long-term function of the leg, acknowledging that amputation may become necessary. Cassie remained stable throughout the rest of the 17th.
As of today, Friday, April 18th, Cassie remains stable but is still in extremely critical condition in the ICU. There have been some small, positive steps forward: the bleeding in her leg is being managed, and progress is being made in reducing excess fluid in her body. She continues to require ECMO support. We were deeply encouraged to see her open her eyes again today during visits, and we were able to speak with her.
Cassie is fighting incredibly hard, and we know she feels the immense wave of love and support surrounding her. This remains a very critical time, and the road ahead is uncertain.
We will continue to provide daily updates on this page. To allow the immediate family to focus fully on Cassie and navigate this challenging time, we kindly ask that you please check here for the latest information before reaching out directly with questions.
Your continued prayers, positive thoughts, and support mean everything to Cassie and our entire family. Thank you for holding her in your hearts.
With gratitude,
The Family
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