Annie Dragoo

Annie Dragoo

Transplant Type:   Heart

What if you were living on borrowed time? 

Annie Dragoo is fighting for her life. In 2013, she collapsed from cardiac arrest and spent five days on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine. The next year, her heart failed again just two hours after a mitral valve repair surgery.  That time, Annie received a right ventricular assist device (RVAD). Her condition continued to worsen, and she was diagnosed with a rare heart disease known as cardiac sarcoidosis and progressive right heart failure in 2020.   Now, doctors say a heart transplant is critical to her survival. 

This has been an extremely challenging time for Annie, her husband, Billy, and their three children. Before her health began to decline, Annie loved singing, acting, dancing, being active in nature by hiking, rafting, tubing, and swimming in rivers, but these days, her activities are quite limited. Annie dreams of being able to be outside, travel, and be active with her loved ones again. More than anything, Annie simply wants to regain her energy so that she can lead a normal, healthy, life. But right now, she needs your help.

Unfortunately, Annie’s hope for a new life comes at a very high price. 

The average heart transplant costs more than $1 million. And that is only the beginning. Even with health insurance, which will cover a portion of the transplant costs, she still faces significant medical expenses related to the surgery. She will need a lifetime of follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. These medications are very costly, and they are as important to her survival as the transplant itself.  

Annie must travel more than 160 miles to reach her transplant center for evaluations and doctors’ appointments. When she receives her transplant, Annie and Billy will need to stay near the hospital for six months, during recovery, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food, and lodging, adding to the financial strain. 

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to the National Foundation for Transplants in honor of Annie.   

If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the National Foundation for Transplants, 3249 W. Sarazen’s Circle, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38125.  Please be sure to write "in honor of Annie Dragoo” in the memo line. 

Thank you for your generosity! 

Transplant Center:   Houston Methodist Hospital

If you have any questions about The National Foundation for Transplants, feel free to contact the staff at 800-489-3863.