Offaly woman pleas for help for her sister to 'live longer'

An Offaly woman has appealed for "urgent help" to keep her sister alive "a bit longer".

Chisa Matsushita has organised a fundraiser for her sister, Miya, who was born with a congenital heart defect, called Tricuspid atresia.

With Tricuspid atresia, the valve isn't formed between the two right heart chambers. Instead, a solid sheet of tissue blocks the blood flow between the right heart chambers. The condition limits blood flow through the heart. Tricuspid atresia causes the right lower heart to be underdeveloped.

To help her sister whose organs are failing and get them to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, Chisa said "urgent help" is needed to keep Miya alive "a bit longer".

"Miya's organs have been slowly failing for quite some time now. If we can get us both to the Royal Brompton London by boat or car May 19. As her heart is just not strong enough to fly. We will need to afford accommodation stay in London until she's strong enough to come back home," explained Chisa on GoFundMe. 

"Distressed and heavy hearted I write this on behalf of our beautiful, loving heart warrior sister. Anyone who knows Miya personally, knows her to have a loving, kind and generous heart. Always helping others where she can in life. Miya didn't want to have to ask this, she needs our help and support right now," she said.

Throughout her life, Miya has undergone several open-heart surgeries and procedures. 

"Attaching her heart to her lungs, creating new arteries and fitting a pacemaker in her body. This is a few of many things surgeons have done in order for Miya to live her best life and extend that life. To say we are amazed by her strength and resilience is a huge understatement. Miya has spent her entire life accepting no limitations and proving people wrong. Miya was told she would never be able to work a regular job with her condition and Miya went on to work many positions her entire life. Pushing herself, defying the odds stacked against her. Always supporting herself throughout her life," said Chiya. 

But over the years, her sister said Miya's condition became increasingly difficult to cope with - and is getting much worse.

"Having a cardioversion (shock to her heart) to help her heart restore somewhat of a regular rhythm for every alarming episode of tachycardia. Having these too frequently now and along with other effects of her condition as you can probably imagine is extremely stressful on her.

"Having to pay for her trips to hospital in London and Dublin, trying to save for accommodation to stay after she has had another procedure. Every admission means paying for more sick certs. Unfortunately, sick certs don't cut the mustard when hospital visits are so frequent. Miya has lost so many jobs for this reason alone.

Miya has a line-up of appointments and a procedure for another heart ablation, she cannot afford to miss this May in both Dublin and London. The healing time from this procedure alone can take months. I want nothing more then for her not to need to stress over the cost of her living right now. Maxed out and stressed out, I really hope we can support her together through this scary time. As I am immensely proud of my sister. I know she could do with more support then we can give her right now," she said.

You can donate to the fundraiser here.