Hello everyone!  Welcome to Heidy's site.

On April 30, Heidy was admitted to UC Medical.  She was being evaluated for possible surgery when an alarming discovery was made.  Based on this alarming discovery, she has undergone a dizzying series of surgeries and procedures over the last 6 weeks.  Fortunately, all the corrective procedures have been completed.  Now she just needs to heal.

Unfortunately, during one of her surgeries, Heidy aspirated fluid from her stomach, causing a severe lung injury.  She was treated in the ICU at the main hospital for several weeks.  Today, she was transferred to the Drake Center to continue her recovery.

Heidy currently has a tracheostomy and cannot speak.  The Drake Center specializes in weaning patients off ventilators and getting them to where they can have their tracheostomies reversed, restoring their voices and returning them to more normal lives. 

Although Heidy cannot use her voice right now, she communicates very well through mouthing words, signing, and when necessary, texting difficult words.  When you see her and talk to her, you will see that although she has been sick and is recovering, she is the same Heidy she has always been.

This has already been a long and exhausting journey for Heidy, and she faces a long recovery.  We are asking those of you who know Heidy and can drive to Cincinnati to help lift her spirits by visiting.  With her friend John Hambrick away on a hiking adventure, her main visitors are her mother (me), her stepfather, and her father.  While we plan to continue regular visits, none of us can be there every day.  And there will be times when we must be out of town.  Plus she will get an extra lift from seeing someone she hasn't seen in a while.

To schedule a visit, please go to the Planner.  You can leave the time you plan to visit in the comments.

I will update you periodically on Heidy's progress.

Thank you for all of your love, support, and prayers.  Please continue to hold Heidy in your hearts.