Hello my name is Jamie Hudson I am the aunt of Zachery Ryan Koonz (17). I am contacting you in hopes to get a story on your broadcast to help spread the word of the fund set up to help my nephew get a new heart.

 

On December 15 Zachery Ryan Koonz (17) a talented self tought guitar player, songwriter and singer from Colcord, OK was transferred from Siloam hospital to WRMC in fayetteville. He initially went in with trouble breathing believed to be caused by a virus and not being able to keep anything down. Once at WRMC they determined the virus had gotten to Zachs heart and was causing elevated heart rate up to 240bpm. Sunday afternoon the doctors told us that they were going to air flight Zach to Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Little Rock, AR. Once there, doctors let us know the situation was much more serious than initially thought. They told us that Zach was suffering from complete congestive heart failure and was going to have to undergo surgery to put a pump in his heart. Wednesday December 19 at 7 am Zach underwent the surgery and had one pump put in his left side of his heart and came out looking like a champ. The doctors said he was out breathing his ventilator last night, This morning Thursday around 12pm doctors consulted with the family to let us know that the right side of Zachs heart had stopped working completely and he was going to be rushed immediately to the OR to undergo another surgery putting another pump on the right side of his heart. As of right now he is undergoing this surgery. Once out of surgery he will remain hospitalized until they can find him a heart to do a transplant, he has been put on the donors list and as long as the pumps continue to work he will remain there. Doctors have said that from the time they find him a heart(which could be tomorrow or next year) he will be in the hospital for at least 6 months doing recovery. He does not have insurance to cover his stay at the hospital or the surgeries. Zach also has 4 younger sisters ranging from the age of 10-16. They are currently staying with me. A fund has been set up through Arvest Bank under the name "Zachery Koonz Heart Fund". All donations will go to Zach's medical bills and daily living expenses for his parents and sisters. There has been a facebook page setup called Zachery Koonz Heart Fund.  Click here to go to his facebook page.

 

thanks guys!

 

Sincerely,

Aunt Jamie