By April, 2025, the biggest, kindest, most generous heart I’ve ever known finally had enough. Having for decades endured a congenital condition called mitral valve prolapse, it just couldn’t continue to effectively function without significant repair—in this case, open-heart surgery. This is why, on April 17, my partner and great love Kamme Feldman underwent a robotic thoracotomy at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
This complicated operation involves a multi-armed robotic station, each arm tipped with specialized surgical instruments, along with a high-def camera for visualization, being “inserted” through the chest wall (just picture that for a moment) and controlled by an elite cardiac surgeon at a console. This highly technical procedure was acutely necessary to repair the deteriorating heart valve which has been providing Kamme with only an estimated 30% of the oxygenated blood her body needs to function properly.
Let alone remarkably, which is exactly how Kamme has lived her life for the entirety of her 54 years, virtually every one characterized by her generosity, empathy, and commitment to selflessly caring for others. Personality traits that go far to explain the level of support we received from an amazing collective of friends and family throughout Kamme’s surgery and recovery effort thus far, leaving us grateful beyond words.
Nevertheless, while insurance might help cover much of the six-figure cost of the procedure, we’re still personally liable for a considerable amount, along with many of the ancillary expenses that have piled up like storm swells: airline travel, multi-thousand-mile road trips from our new home in the Pacific Northwest (where we transplanted to care for her aging father), living expenses while down south, rehab, and many lost work hours. In a word, overwhelming.
Which is why I’ve started this fundraiser page, asking for your help in making up the difference. This was not an easy decision for me to make. But when I think of how courageously Kamme is walking the long road to recovery, so intent on getting back on her board and out into the waves as soon as possible, relieving at least some of the financial burden, in any way I can, takes priority.
So thanks for reading this far, and please consider sharing this fundraiser on your page.
Sam George
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