A Southern California dad is fighting for his life, but his family says the heart transplant that could save him is still out of reach.
Rhett Pascual, 53, a father of two, is in critical condition after his heart began to fail following a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy and a subsequent stroke. Now, his loved ones say time is slipping away.
Despite having health insurance, Pascual wasn’t placed on a transplant list earlier due to financial complications, according to his family.
Now, they say he’s being told he may be too weak to qualify, a devastating turn as his condition continues to decline.
The critically ill father remains stuck in limbo as each day passes. His family says he desperately needs a new heart, but the life-saving procedure has not been approved or scheduled.
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“It’s a matter of life and death. I’m just looking for a chance. Give me a little bit more time,” Pascual told ABC7.
Frustrated and fearing the worst, his family is speaking out, arguing that red tape and delays have kept him from getting the care he urgently needs.
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Cases like this are often complicated. Even with insurance, patients must meet strict medical criteria before being added to a transplant list. Doctors weigh survival odds, overall health, and whether a patient can endure the intense recovery process.
With donor hearts in short supply, hospitals are forced to make agonizing decisions about who gets a second chance, choices that can mean the difference between life and death.
For Pascual’s family, the clock is ticking. A GoFundMe campaign has already raised about $41,000 toward a $45,000 goal as they scramble for help and hold onto hope that it’s not too late.
