Dear Friends and Family,

We are reaching out on behalf of Ed (Dad) Perusse, who you all know is a generous spirit and has always been willing to help those in need.

The year 2024 has proven to be a challenging journey for him, marked by frequent hospital visits and ongoing health struggles.

In January, Dad contracted COVID-19, which severely strained his heart and lungs, which led to his first hospitalization. Despite being discharged after several days, he continued to experience residual symptoms, necessitating multiple visits to cardiologists and pulmonologists. His breathing difficulties persisted.

Come March, he was readmitted for an 11-day stint, during which he was diagnosed with pneumonia and congestive heart failure. Upon stabilization, he was sent home with supplemental oxygen, only to be rushed back to the hospital two weeks later and admitted under sepsis protocols, eventually transferred to the ICU. 

On April 21st, he was transported from Las Vegas to USC KECK in Los Angeles and placed in the cardiac wing for further testing to determine the following steps to help his heart. 

Tragically, a few days later, he suffered a heart attack, further damaging his already failing heart. He was moved back into the ICU after being intubated and promptly sent into surgery to be placed on an ECMO device, a lifesaving apparatus that removes carbon dioxide and infuses oxygen into his blood, essentially doing the work for his lungs and failing heart. 

Dad was recently added to the national heart transplant list and is under the vigilant care of a dedicated team of medical professionals at USC KECK. To ensure his full recovery post-surgery, we need to relocate to California temporarily.

The financial burden associated with hospitalizations and traveling has been substantial and highly stressful, along with the soon-added expenses of the anti-rejection medications, rehabilitation, and temporary relocation.

This is where we ask for your help. We're immensely grateful for any support you can offer during this time, and any amount you can spare is deeply appreciated. Please hit the DONATE bar and donate to the “Have a Heart, Give for Ed Perusse's Heart Transplant” fundraising campaign. 

Sharing with your network would also be tremendously appreciated for those who cannot contribute by donating, 

Thank you for your love, prayers, and support.

Warm regards,

The Perusse Family