Hello there!
We are Nick and Jeni Busta, high school sweethearts who have been blessed in marriage
for over 17 1/2 years. When Jeni tells Nick she loves him, she says “I love you with all of
my ½heart”… because medically speaking, it’s true.
Jeni was born in 1985 with a complex heart condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart
Syndrome, or HLHS. Basically, her left ventricle (the chamber that pumps blood
throughout the body) never formed in utero, and never will develop. She is one of the
oldest in the world with her condition, and has undergone 2 open heart surgeries (the
Norwood and the Fontan) and received a pacemaker when she was 3 years old. Over the
years, she has had 7 pacemaker replacements, several heart ablations, and multiple
catheterizations to continue to manage her incredibly unique heart condition.
In August 2022, Jeni underwent a procedure to replace her 34-year-old pacemaker leads
(wires). The surgery overall was a success, but unfortunately, her phrenic nerve was
damaged, permanently paralyzing her left diaphragm and squeezing her left lung shut.
This caused a myriad of side effects, including insomnia and advanced fluid retention in
the belly, a key sign of heart failure. 2 years of trying multiple methods of treatment,
healing, and rehabilitation ultimately proved unsuccessful. After much discussion and
prayer, we have made the decision to list Jeni for a double transplant, replacing the heart
and liver simultaneously.
This surgery is essentially the “end-game” option for adult patients with Jeni’s condition
and surgical history. Jeni and Nick will move in to UCLA Medical Center on December
3rd and begin the evaluation process, followed by the waiting period. We were told to be
emotionally and mentally prepared for a 6-12 month waiting period. In the meantime, Jeni
will stay in the hospital. Once she has the surgery, there will be a recovery that could be
anywhere from 2-6 months. All this time, Nick will be living with Jeni as much as possible,
while attempting to continue his job to help make ends meet.
As we are a single income home, we can struggle financially with paying Jeni’s medical
bills. In the midst of it all, God has ALWAYS been faithful in providing for us, but we know
He uses the church worldwide to provide for the needs of His children. Any and all help
would be greatly appreciated, and we are grateful for however you can provide. May the
Lord bless you abundantly