Baltimore resident Chris Miles was born with a heart abnormality, but it seldom affected his daily life until about 2001. In 2002, Chris underwent open heart surgery to have a mechanical valve placed into his aorta, the body’s main artery.
What once seemed a bump in the road for the Miles family has developed into a full-blown nightmare.
Chris’ heart first began to fail by 2015, and in 2017, he picked up a staph infection that sent both his heart and liver into failure. The doctors’ prognosis was grim; Chris was not expected to live.
Nevertheless, Chris and the Miles family persisted. Tragedy struck again on Mother’s Day of 2018 when Chris went back into congestive heart failure. He was not expected to live, but once more, the power of prayer and family support pulled him through.
However, Chris, his wife Dawn, and their children received devastating news: the staph infection dealt irreversible damage to Chris’ heart. The only route to survival for Chris is a double transplant of the heart and lungs.
Amidst all of the setbacks and chaos, one characteristic of the Miles family shines crystal clear: perseverance, even on the bleakest of days. For Dawn, it is hope for thirty more years with her beloved spouse that keeps her going.
I don’t have good days, but I’ve learned it’s okay to not be okay … It’s okay for me to be scared because I want another 30 years. I don’t want to be the age I am and be a widow.
Dawn Miles describes the fear of losing her spouse to Baltimore news station, WMAR2.
Chris’ devoted wife, a three-time cancer survivor herself, has been by his side every step of the way. However, assisting her husband has made it nearly impossible to work and help cover costs. While she stays at the ready to support Chris in any way possible, Dawn uses her large Twitter platform to send their GoFundMe link across social media. She has even managed to get the attention of Actor James Woods and Country star Travis Tritt, who have each posted Chris’ fundraising link on their own Twitter accounts.
So far, they have raised $56,000 of their $150,000 goal. The Miles’ are extremely grateful for each and every donation they receive, and Dawn tells me she is touched by the assistance total strangers have lent throughout this grueling process. However, despite the support of numerous celebrities and one thousand people total, the Miles family faces daunting costs:
The total cost of Chris’ double transplant medical bill is estimated to fall between $300,000 and $500,000.
Dawn and Chris continue to battle as they always have, but they need help from selfless Americans. To do your part in helping the family, you can donate at the link below; every single dollar counts. If you do not have the means to donate, share this story.
LINK: GoFundMe
