This archive report was first published on 12 September 2019.
September 12, 2019, marked a turning point for Jennifer Ortiz, a 24-year-old woman who had been struggling with heart failure. After being denied her third heart transplant, Ortiz decided to create a bucket list to live life to the fullest.
Ortiz's list includes meeting the Jonas Brothers, traveling to Dubai, and watching Lizzo in concert, among other experiences. She published her list on GoFundMe, a crowdfunding platform, to raise funds for her medical expenses and to make her dreams a reality.
Ortiz's health troubles began after a long-lasting cough led to an emergency room visit with her mother, where she was diagnosed with an enlarged heart. Despite undergoing two previous heart transplants, Ortiz was recently denied her third transplant from UCLA. She has been put on palliative care, an end-of-life treatment plan.
On her GoFundMe page, Ortiz wrote, "I am looking to live the rest of my life the best way possible." She has already raised over $40,000 in just six days, with thoughtful comments pouring in from supporters.
Ortiz's bucket list is a testament to her determination to live life to the fullest, despite her health challenges. Her story has inspired many, and her bucket list has gone viral on social media.
Ortiz's father, Danny, told People, "We've got to condense a lifetime into as much time as we have. It's a shame that it takes something like this happening to say, 'Hey, let's get up and start living.'"
