Meet Wendy!

For more than a decade, the Fox family has faced life-altering heart challenges, ultimately requiring three heart transplants in just three years. The journey began in 2019 when Wendy was diagnosed with heart failure; her ejection fraction was just 10%. Around the same time, her son Cory suffered a traumatic brain injury and severe heart damage after being hit by a motorcycle, leaving him in a coma for months.

Once Cory stabilized, she underwent heart surgery. By early 2020, her condition had worsened, and she was officially listed for a heart transplant at NYU Langone Health. Within a matter of days, a donor heart became available, and the transplant was successfully performed. During this already difficult time, Wendy’s daughter sadly passed away. The experience took on a deeply personal and spiritual significance when the nurse assisting in her recovery shared the same name as her late daughter, Danielle—a name that would forever hold profound meaning for the family.

Following the transplant, the family connected with Harboring Hearts, in need of financial stability, the Fox family faced mounting medical bills and the loss of two incomes. Harboring Hearts quickly assisted with utilities and groceries, easing the immediate burden during an extraordinarily difficult time.

The family’s story continued with additional heart transplants: two years later, their son received a new heart, and three years after her own surgery, Wendy’s husband also underwent a transplant. The remarkable series of events, three hearts in three years, highlights both the fragility of life and the resilience of the Fox family.

Harboring Hearts’ support, made possible by generous donors, ensures that families like the Foxes can focus on recovery rather than financial stress. From emergency financial assistance to programs supported by community contributions, the organization provides vital relief to families navigating the complexities of heart surgery and transplants.