Accelerate Health

As an ART practitioner, I am surrounded by athletes doing amazing things day in and day out.  This woman is no exception.  I am inspired by Becca’s motivation and courage to do something so selfless for her dear friend Kori.  Please read Kori’s story below and donate to her cause if this touches you in any way.  Dr. Clark

Once again I have a goal and a cause….a cause not like the one in previous years, because it is a lone cause.  I have come to many of you on a few occasions asking for you to support me with my Team in Training events through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  This organization is very important to me, but as important as it is, the cause I am fighting for now holds another dear place in my HEART.  My college roommate and amazing friend, Kori Bigge, is waiting for a new HEART.  A link to a video relaying her story is below. Please take the time to watch it as I want you to know of her amazing fight and courage.  In order to show my support for her,  I have decided to do tackle my ultimate and most feared feat.  I am going to compete in my first Ironman!  You know where all of you come in to play, as my goal is to raise $5,000 to help her with her medical bills and complete this task of swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles in Tempe, AZ, on November 22nd!  I know neither will be easy.  The training up to this point has left me exhausted, but know it is little compared what Kori has gone through and what still lies ahead.  Please consider donating to Kori.  All the information on how to donate is below.  Every penny you donate will go to her to help with the multitude of medical bills.  I am paying for all of my expenses out of pocket.  This is the least I can do for her!

Thank you for your consideration!!!!!
Becca Stevens

Donations:

A check may be made out to SNB (Stockton National Bank) c/o Kori Bigge Medical Fund.  Please either send checks to Ironman For Kori c/o Mary Stevens at 19381 US 75, Benedict, KS 66714, or hand deliver to myself or a family member.

Kori’s Story

Please click on the link to watch the video or read the stroy below:

http://connect2utah.com/content/video/?cid=39233

Right now at this hour, there are nearly three thousand people across the country waiting for a heart transplant. 35 of them are here in Utah. The stories are many, but for one family, the road to getting on the list came with a great sacrifice, including losing a child.

For Kori and Doug Biggie, their life together started as many couples do. They got married, live in Kansas and then had their first child. But it was during Kori’s second pregnancy in April of last year that forever changed the Biggie’s life.

During a checkup, doctors discovered their unborn baby had an enlarged heart. 28 weeks into the pregnancy, Dena was born by C-Section. The tiny baby spent most of her short life in the hospital, where family gathered to say goodbye as she passed away.

The morning of Dena’s funeral on September 10th, Kori suffered a massive heart attack. Kori was rushed into emergency surgery. She had a stroke that has left her blind. Under the advice of doctors, Kori was eventually transferred to the University of Hospital, where surgeons inserted a heart pump. “I finally woke up and really became conscious of everything in October. I found out that I had a heart attack and was in Salt Lake and not in Kansas anymore,” said Kori during an interview with 2News.

The small cord from the heart pump comes out of her rib cage on her right side and plugs into a small battery pack. The pump actually keeps her failing heart beating. But there is a serious problem, the pump is not meant to last forever.
So Kori is now among the thousands across the nation on a heart transplant waiting list. Since her life is not in immediate danger, those on the list who are ill, move to the top of the transplant list.

Despite all their challenges, the Biggie’s are not giving up hope. “It happened and there is no sense in dwelling on the bad stuff because that is just going to bring you down and everybody else around you down, so try to dwell on the good things and the funny things.”

Kori’s husband Doug has been making frequent trips to Utah to be with Kori as she waits for a new heart. “Her attitude about this whole thing is unbelievable. I don’t know how many people could be through what she’s been through, losing her eye sight, losing a child, having her heart damage and have such a good outlook on life as she does.”

Kori has been staying at the House of Hope during her stay here in Utah. Her health right now has improved so much that she’s been allowed to go home to see her family in Kansas.

Last year, about 33 people here in Utah received heart transplants. Currently about 69% of licensed drivers are on the Donor Registry. Kori and Doug hope stories like this help that number of donors go up.

Right now at this hour, there are nearly three thousand people across the country waiting for a heart transplant. 35 of them are here in Utah. The stories are many, but for one family, the road to getting on the list came with a great sacrifice, including losing a child.

Here is an update to Kori’s Story:  She has been home for quite some time enjoying her family and living as normal a life as possible. She is now waiting to have medication approved in order for her to get her antibodies down.  Although this medication has been used for multiple organ transplants, it has never been used for heart transplants.  As soon as it is approved, Kori will head back to Salt Lake City, where she will go to the top of the transplant list.  I hope the day I cross the finish line, she has her dream…A NEW HEART!