I hope you never feel the pain of fighting for your life, the sheer exhaustion, the fear, the hopelessness. I hope most of all you don't go so long without oxygen, it scars and damages your brain. I wasn't dealt a fair hand of cards in life; at 15, I made a conscious decision. A decision to stand and fight or to give up and succumb to the pressure that surrounded me. I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. My heart stays in Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. Asystole. I required a pacemaker. The lack of oxygen prior to stabilizing my heart caused brain damage then Epilepsy as well as short term memory loss. My parents were terrified to allow me back into school. I couldn’t remember my own school layout. My short term memory made it beyond difficult to retain information, to learn it, to pass exams. I only worked harder. My heart still continues its tachycardic rage. I wake every morning to a medicine caddy that looks like that for an eighty year old. Even with my heart medication, getting to the classrooms and around school with a heart rate of 160 wears out even the strongest. I am healing and have just recovered from my third pacemaker surgery in two years. Most of my high school years were spent in the children's hospital or too weak to get out of bed. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-Now and now I do. The first Golden Pacemaker installed in our Children’s Hospital due to pacemaker allergy. The life saving device to my almost unbelievable Covid story, I was allergic to the Titanium. I believe we are all here on earth with purpose. My purpose doesn't end at the document I just received from the hospital- "Severely Disabled-Stage IV". No thank you. I have fought and will continue to fight through college, too. Whatever it takes, I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, I am resilient, a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is, and to never take it for granted. I am proud to be not only be graduating on time with my walking class, but doing it with honors. Attending higher education will give me the opportunity to be where I once stood. To hold the hand of the one scared as I once was, to smile in a time your terrified. To tell them-I was once you-I fought-I won. My parents say everything is okay; they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know that alongside the credit cards, they have emptied their accounts. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. They say that's what parents do. They fight for their children. I will spend all day, any spare moment I have, writing, and fighting now for scholarships to help remove the educational burden from them. Thank you for being there to ease the financial burden of a family in need. To allow them a moment in time to not worry, a moment to smile instead of fight. From my golden heart to yours, Jayden Gross

I hope you never feel the pain of fighting for your life, the sheer exhaustion, the fear, the hopelessness. I hope most of all you don't go so long without oxygen, it scars and damages your brain. I wasn't dealt a fair hand of cards in life; at 15, I made a conscious decision. A decision to stand and fight or to give up and succumb to the pressure that surrounded me. I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. My heart stays in Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. Asystole. I required a pacemaker. The lack of oxygen prior to stabilizing my heart caused brain damage then Epilepsy as well as short term memory loss. My parents were terrified to allow me back into school. I couldn’t remember my own school layout. My short term memory made it beyond difficult to retain information, to learn it, to pass exams. I only worked harder. My heart still continues its tachycardic rage. I wake every morning to a medicine caddy that looks like that for an eighty year old. Even with my heart medication, getting to the classrooms and around school with a heart rate of 160 wears out even the strongest. I am healing and have just recovered from my third, yes third, pacemaker surgery in two years. Most of my high school years were spent in the children's hospital or too weak to get out of bed. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-Now and now I do. The first Golden Pacemaker installed in our Children’s Hospital due to pacemaker allergy. The life saving device to my almost unbelievable Covid story, I was allergic to the Tititumn. I believe we are all here on earth with purpose. My purpose doesn't end at the document I just received from the hospital- "Severely Disabled-Stage IV". No thank you. I have fought and will continue to fight through college, too. Whatever it takes, I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, I am resilient, a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is, and to never take it for granted. This fight is what will build my future, I am disabled-but will stand in my future to help those as I once needed help. To be the one there to make them smile, to tell them-I was you once. My parents say everything is okay; they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know that alongside the credit cards, they have emptied their accounts. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. They say that's what parents do. They fight for their children. I will spend all day, any spare moment I have, writing, and fighting now for scholarships to help remove the educational burden from them. Thank you for being there to ease the financial burden of a family in need. To allow them a moment in time to not worry, a moment to smile instead of fight. From my golden heart to yours, Jayden Gross

I hope you never feel the pain of fighting for your life, the sheer exhaustion, the fear, the hopelessness. I hope most of all you don't go so long without oxygen, it scars and damages your brain. I wasn't dealt a fair hand of cards in life; at 15, I made a conscious decision. A decision to stand and fight or to give up and succumb to the pressure that surrounded me. I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. My heart stays in Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. Asystole. I required a pacemaker. The lack of oxygen prior to stabilizing my heart caused brain damage then Epilepsy as well as short term memory loss. My parents were terrified to allow me back into school. I couldn’t remember my own school layout. My short term memory made it beyond difficult to retain information, to learn it, to pass exams. I only worked harder. My heart still continues its tachycardic rage. I wake every morning to a medicine caddy that looks like that for an eighty year old. Even with my heart medication, getting to the classrooms and around school with a heart rate of 160 wears out even the strongest. I am healing and have just recovered from my third, yes third, pacemaker surgery in two years. Most of my high school years were spent in the children's hospital or too weak to get out of bed. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-Now and now I do. The first Golden Pacemaker installed in our Children’s Hospital due to pacemaker allergy. The life saving device to my almost unbelievable Covid story, I was allergic to the Titanium. I believe we are all here on earth with purpose. My purpose doesn't end at the document I just received from the hospital- "Severely Disabled-Stage IV". No thank you. I have fought and will continue to fight through college, too. Whatever it takes, I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, I am resilient, a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is, and to never take for granted. My parents say everything is okay; they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know that alongside the credit cards, they have emptied their accounts. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. They say that's what parents do. They fight for their children. I will spend all day, any spare moment I have, writing, and fighting now for scholarships to help remove the educational burden from them. My dad works hard, but his income is only enough to barely make it through. We lost my moms income following Covid and the damage it did to my heart and brain. It's hard to watch, and not feel like a burden. My entire life, they have always been adamant on education. That they did not want to see me struggle the way they have through life. I am excited to not only graduate with my walking class on time, but also with honors. Most would have given up. I fought. Thank you for being there to ease the financial burden of a family in need. To allow them a moment in time to not worry, a moment to smile instead of fight. From my golden heart to yours, Jayden Gross

I hope you never feel the pain of fighting for your life, the sheer exhaustion, the fear, the hopelessness. I hope most of all you don't go so long without oxygen, it scars and damages your brain. I wasn't dealt a fair hand of cards in life; at 15, I made a conscious decision. A decision to stand and fight or to give up and succumb to the pressure that surrounded me. I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. My heart stays in Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. Asystole. I now require a pacemaker. The lack of oxygen prior to stabilizing my heart caused brain damage, that damage caused Epilepsy as well as short term memory loss. My short term memory made it beyond difficult to retain information, to learn it, to pass exams. I only worked harder. My heart still continues its tachycardic rage. I wake every morning to a medicine caddy that looks like that of an eighty year old. Even with my heart medication, getting to the classrooms and around school with a heart rate of 160 wears out even the strongest. I am healing and have just recovered from my third, yes third, pacemaker surgery in two years. Most of my high school years were spent in the children's hospital or too weak to get out of bed. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-Now and now I do. The first Golden Pacemaker installed in our Children’s Hospital due to pacemaker allergy. The life saving device to my almost unbelievable Covid story, I was allergic to the metal it was made of. I believe we are all here on earth with purpose. My purpose doesn't end at the document I just received from the hospital- "Severely Disabled-Stage IV". No thank you. I have fought and will continue to fight through college, too. Whatever it takes, I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, I am resilient, a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is, and to never take it for granted. I am not sure where you will find me later in life, but it will be in Education or Medical field. I want to be the person to say, I was you once-I fought-I won. My parents say everything is okay; they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know that alongside the credit cards, they have emptied their accounts. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. They say that's what parents do. They fight for their children. I will spend all day, any spare moment I have, writing, and fighting now for scholarships to help remove the educational burden from them. Thank you for being there to ease the financial burden of a family in need. To allow them a moment in time to not worry, a moment to smile instead of fight. From my golden heart to yours, Jayden Gross

I hope you never feel the pain of fighting for your life, the sheer exhaustion, the fear, the hopelessness. I hope most of all you don't go so long without oxygen, it scars and damages your brain. I wasn't dealt a fair hand of cards in life; at 15, I made a conscious decision. A decision to stand and fight or to give up and succumb to the pressure that surrounded me. I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. My heart stayed in Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. Asystole. I required a pacemaker and the brain damage from lack of oxygen caused Epilepsy as well as short term memory loss. My parents were terrified to allow me back into school. I am healing and have just recovered from my third, yes third, pacemaker surgery in two years. Most of my high school years were spent in the children's hospital or too weak to get out of bed. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-Now and now I do. The first Golden Pacemaker installed in our Children’s Hospital due to pacemaker allergy. At some points, I felt the walls of the Cardiac ICU room as a jail cell. It what it becomes after weeks, after appointment after appointment, hospitalization after hospitalization. The thing I am most thankful for were the moments of laughter than came from kind nurses, techs, everyone that went out of their way to make me feel as if I were not just another patient file number. I hope to one day stand and be that person, and say-I was you once. I fought once, I won. I believe we are all here on earth with purpose. My purpose doesn't end at the document I just received from the hospital- "Severely Disabled-Stage IV". No thank you. I have fought and will continue to fight through college, too. Whatever it takes, I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, I am resilient, a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is, and to never take it for granted. My parents say everything is okay; they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know that alongside the credit cards, they have emptied their accounts. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. They say that's what parents do. They fight for their children. I will spend all day, any spare moment I have, writing, and fighting now for scholarships to help remove the educational burden from them. Thank you for being there to ease the financial burden of a family in need. To allow them a moment in time to not worry, a moment to smile instead of fight. From my golden heart to yours, Jayden Gross

I hope you never feel the pain of fighting for your life, the sheer exhaustion, the fear, the hopelessness. I hope most of all you don't go so long without oxygen, it scars and damages your brain. I wasn't dealt a fair hand of cards in life; at 15, I made a conscious decision. A decision to stand and fight or to give up and succumb to the pressure that surrounded me. I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. I was young, healthy, no pre existing problems. After Covid my heart stayed in Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. Asystole. My worse episode lasted almost 3 minutes. I was lifted six hours south to the Children's hospital and pacemaker was inserted. It was too long, too late. With my pacemaker I left with Epilepsy, reports that terrified us, and short term memory loss. I couldn't even remember my schools layout. Classes, Library, Principle's office-no clue. My parents were terrified to allow me back into high school. Sheer fear. How could a school protect one child, when there are almost 1300 in the building. That was until we learned of school accommodations. A simple request; “Please meet with Mrs. Machen, our 504 coordinator, if after that you feel she won't be protected, leave her homebound.” We climbed the two flights of stairs to the side office where a middle aged lady met us with a huge hug and smile. In that moment, that day all the fear subsided. My mom knew she would forever be my protector. Mrs. Machen was a phone call away. After so much time spent out of school in NOLA Children's, I was moved from 504 into IEP. These past two years Mrs. Machen was at every meeting. She didn’t have to be, I was no longer a file on her desk; she wanted to be there. It was her mission while I was on campus to assure every teacher, every professional knew to watch over me. I am healing and have just recovered from my third, yes third, pacemaker surgery in two years. Most of my high school years were spent in the children's hospital or too weak to get out of bed. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-Now and now I do. The first Golden Pacemaker installed in our Children’s Hospital due to pacemaker allergy. I believe we are all here on earth with purpose. My purpose doesn't end at the document I just received from the hospital- "Severely Disabled-Stage IV". No thank you. I have fought and will continue to fight through college, too. Whatever it takes, I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, I am resilient, a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is, and to never take it for granted. My parents say everything is okay; they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know that alongside the credit cards, they have emptied their accounts. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. We have been fighting for almost four years now, two of those in NOLA. They say that's what parents do. They fight for their children. I will spend all day, any spare moment I have, writing, and fighting now for scholarships to help remove the educational burden from them. Thank you for being there to ease the financial burden of a family in need. To allow them a moment in time to not worry, a moment to smile instead of fight. People like Mr. Levin and Mrs. Machen don't exist everywhere; but where one will find them-they will find an everlasting investment into their future. Being a teenager is hard enough, being a sick teen-even harder. There's no question in my mind, without Mrs. Machen I would not have made it. I not only made it, but graduating on time, walking with my class, and with National Honors Society cord. I think of my years, my time spent fighting and my future. I am torn between educational system or hospital system. You will find me in one, so that I can stand to help young ones in need as I have been. To say, I've been where your at-I fought-I won. From my golden heart to yours, Jayden Gross

Mr. Odom was my Algebra teacher, a subject of which I am horribly terrible at. He was genuine, worried about me, wanted to see me succeed. His class was not just academically different, it was my safe haven. He believed in me before I believed in myself and before he knew anything about me. I could talk to him about anything without any judgement. Teachers are given the “medical file” attachment with the kids that carry a 504 or an IEP Plan. I am unsure of what they are allowed to see or know beyond my extra accommodations. He was the first teacher to sit and ask me the simplest of things; are you okay and do you want to talk about it? He listened, he encouraged me. I had to be placed homebound during the semester for surgery-he stayed constant. Mr. Odom never left me, he was still there every step of the course through email, on his time from home. A detailed answer, showing the steps to reach it. The following semester I had another course with him. Every IEP School Board meeting, a teacher of the student sits in. That year it was him. Within the closed door of 8-10 people, was where the blindfolds came off, where my warrior mom made sure everything I needed was set in place. It was where he learned of my full medical history. He and I spoke where the conversation lead. I mostly stayed vague in that I am tired of being sick, I am tired of fighting. That day he heard, seen, and listened until he cried. My medical file on the table with them was almost 400 pages by my Junior year. He was heartbroken that I had been through so much at such a young age. From that moment, each teacher was made well aware of who I was, Mr. Odom made sure of it. He never knew he was the reason so many times I kept fighting. The reason I will be walking with my class on time, with a 3.5. My name is Jayden, and I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. Post Covid my heart began falling from Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. I was in cardiac arrest, at 15. Asystole. No heartbeat-a thin line on a strip of paper. I wasn't dealt a fair hand of cards in life; at 15, I made a conscious decision. A decision to stand and fight or to give up and succumb to the pressure that surrounded me. Through this I still believe we are all here on earth with purpose, my purpose doesn't end at my recently received "Severely Disabled-Stage IV" letter from the hospital. No, thank you. I have fought and will continue to fight through college too. I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, resilient, and I am a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is and to never take it for granted. My parents say everything is okay, they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know they have emptied the accounts, maxed their cards-all to keep fighting. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. So I write, I submit to scholarships. I will submit to everyone I can find in hopes of easing any of their burden.

I hope you never feel the pain of fighting for your life, the sheer exhaustion, the fear, the hopelessness. I hope most of all you don't go so long without oxygen, it scars and damages your brain. I wasn't dealt a fair hand of cards in life; at 15, I made a conscious decision. A decision to stand and fight or to give up and succumb to the pressure that surrounded me. I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. My heart was falling from Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. Asystole. I am healing and have just recovered from my third, yes third, pacemaker surgery in two years. The lack of oxygen caused scarring over my temporal lobe. Alongside the heart failure I fought began fighting Epilepsy due to the scarring. I buried my near death experience for years. Unable to cope with knowing I had died. No moments of life flashed before my eyes, no tunnel of darkness, no bright light. I felt it coming, I knew it was coming. I was watching everything from another perspective. My mom screaming; crying out my name, the nurses scrambling to hook up monitors, the one that ran for meds. I saw it all but I wasn't laying in that hospital bed. Instead of fear, I was met with peace, a peace like I have never known before. I knew he was there; I felt him and in that moment I knew there was a higher power. He placed his hand over my heart and his words were short; “It's not your time”. That moment along with the rest of my fight changed me forever. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, I am resilient, a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is, and to never take it for granted. I hope to work within the healthcare field, to stand beside those children and say, I've been you. To be their smile when they cant find their own, their voice when they don't have one. To hug and hold them when they are broken and want to give up. To show them they are so much more than a patient file number. I want them to known they can fight and they are not alone. That there is a future beyond what they are living through at that moment in their life. I believe we are all here on earth with purpose. My purpose doesn't end at the document I just received from the hospital- "Severely Disabled-Stage IV". No thank you. I have fought and will continue to fight through college, too. Whatever it takes, I will succeed. My parents say everything is okay; they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know that alongside the credit cards, they have emptied their accounts. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. They say that's what parents do. They fight for their children. I will spend all day, any spare moment I have, writing, and fighting now for scholarships to help remove the educational burden from them. Thank you for being there to ease the financial burden of a family in need. To allow them a moment in time to not worry, a moment in time to smile instead of fight.

I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. Prior to the virus my medical history consisted of "seasonal allergies". Post Covid my heart began falling from Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. I was in cardiac arrest, at 15. Asystole. No heartbeat-a thin line on a strip of paper. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. I wasn't handed a fair hand of cards for high school, nor was I with the device that saved my life. While fighting the heart, I simultaneously began fighting a new fight; Epilepsy. Without oxygen to my brain, it left scarring over my temporal lobe. I have been told I am at a high risk of SUDEP, that I am Tonic-Clonic, Myoclonic, Focal. We are three years into a fight that still holds little to no answers. Neuro says it’s my heart, Cardio says it's my brain. I say I just need answers. I've just recovered from my third pacemaker surgery in two years. It took over a year to find that my body was rejecting the pacemakers because I am allergic to titanium. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-Now I do. The first golden pacemaker installed at the Children's Hospital. I remember flatlining and dying, it's something you will never forget. I am lucky, there are only a few times I am locked stiff-but still retain and know what is happening. I normally lose consciousness and gasp awake to my mom rocking me in her arms screaming my name-that I will also always remember. I cannot write that of a normal teenage bio, most of my assignments were submitted from a hospital trip or the bed. I missed my first of many things. Dating, driving a car, my first kiss. Prom I was in surgery, Senior Ring Ceremony I was admitted into the Cardiac ICU due to infection. The list only kept growing. Through this I still believe we are all here on earth with purpose, my purpose doesn't end at my recently received "Severely Disabled-Stage IV" letter from the hospital. No, thank you. I have fought and will continue to fight through college too. I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, resilient, and I am a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is and to never take it for granted. Most of all I am proudly graduating on time, walking with my class holding a 3.5 GPA. I hope to find myself in the hospital setting. Xray tech, Child Care Specialist, Neurology. I want to be the one standing beside them to say, I was once you. I want to empower them and give them strength-I want to make them smile. I want to show them, I made it and to keep fighting. My parents say everything is okay, they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know they have emptied the accounts, maxed their cards-all to keep fighting. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. So I write, I submit to scholarships. I will submit to everyone I can find in hopes of easing any of their burden. I am not sure where my life will lead; but I do know a strong woman will be standing in that position. From My Golden Heart To Yours Jayden Gross

I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. Prior to the virus my medical history consisted of "seasonal allergies". Post Covid my heart began falling from Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. I was in cardiac arrest, at 15. Asystole. No heartbeat-a thin line on a strip of paper. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. I wasn't dealt a fair hand of cards for high school, nor was I with the device that saved my life. While fighting the heart, I simultaneously began fighting a new fight; Epilepsy. Without oxygen to my brain, it left scarring over my temporal lobe. I have been told I am at a high risk of SUDEP, that I am Tonic-Clonic, Myoclonic, Focal. We are three years into a fight that still holds little to no answers. Neuro says it’s my heart, Cardio says it's my brain. I say I just need answers. I've just recovered from my third pacemaker surgery in two years. It took over a year to find that my body was rejecting the pacemakers because I am allergic to titanium. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-Now I do. The first golden pacemaker installed at the Children's Hospital. I remember flatlining and dying, it's something you will never forget. I am lucky, there are only a few times I am locked stiff-but still retain and know what is happening. I normally lose consciousness and gasp awake to my mom rocking me in her arms screaming my name-that I will also always remember. I cannot write that of a normal teenage bio, most of my assignments were submitted from a hospital trip or the bed. I missed my first of many things. Dating, driving a car, my first kiss. Prom I was in surgery, Senior Ring Ceremony I was admitted into the Cardiac ICU due to infection. The list only kept growing. Through this I still believe we are all here on earth with purpose, my purpose doesn't end at my recently received "Severely Disabled-Stage IV" letter from the hospital. No, thank you. I have fought and will continue to fight through college too. I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, resilient, and I am a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is and to never take it for granted. Most of all I am proudly graduating on time, walking with my class holding a 3.5 GPA. I hope to find myself in the hospital setting. Xray tech, Child Care Specialist, Neurology. I want to be the one standing beside them to say, I was once you. I want to empower them and give them strength-I want to make them smile. I want to show them, I made it and to keep fighting. My parents say everything is okay, they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know they have emptied the accounts, maxed their cards-all to keep fighting. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. So I write, I submit to scholarships. I will submit to everyone I can find in hopes of easing any of their burden. I am not sure where my life will lead; but I do know a strong woman will be standing in that position. From My Golden Heart To Yours Jayden Gross

I hope you never feel the pain of fighting for your life, the sheer exhaustion, the fear, the hopelessness. I hope most of all you don't go so long without oxygen, it scars and damages your brain. I wasn't dealt a fair hand of cards in life; at 15, I made a conscious decision. A decision to stand and fight or to give up and succumb to the pressure that surrounded me. I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. My heart was falling from Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. Asystole. Now you have to be wondering what does this have anything to do with the military. Enter-pawpaw. Pawpaw is your expected 83 year old man. Anything electronic, is a hard lesson. No understanding why their dial up was taken for something called Wifi. Pawpaw’s allowance was endless growing up; and always made mawmaw furious. Riding bikes inside the house, shooting BB guns out his bedroom window, attaching an old mattress to his four wheeler to make a sled. Climbing trees far higher than any kid should. Digging a "pool” in the garden. We dug, and dug, and we dug. Mawmaw was mad as a hornet and what did pawpaw do? Pawpaw went and bought me a new tarp to hold the water in. When I found out I needed a pacemaker; I went to pawpaw. He moved aside his button down flannel shirt and showed me the simple scar on his chest. He reminded me how strong I was, that I was a fighter like him. He laughed as he held me and said we would both run on batteries together. I chose to fight just as my grandfather once did. I do not talk to him about what it felt like to die, he does not talk to me about what the Vietnam War was like. I remember as a child finding metals and army things in his room, but he never talked about what stood behind them. I suppose we both can imagine each other's silent battles within. I am healing and have just recovered from my third, yes third, pacemaker surgery in two years. Pawpaw has been there through every battle. I believe we are all here on earth with purpose. My purpose doesn't end at the document I just received from the hospital- "Severely Disabled-Stage IV". No, thank you. I have fought and will continue to fight through college, too. Whatever it takes, I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is, and to never take it for granted. My parents say everything is okay; they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know that alongside the credit cards, they have emptied their accounts. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. They say that's what parents do. They fight for their children. I will spend all day, any spare moment I have, writing, and fighting now for scholarships to help remove the educational burden from them. Thank you for being there to ease the financial burden of a family in need. Thank you for carrying James's legacy and reading my story. From my golden heart to yours, Jayden Gross

I hope you never feel the pain of fighting for your life, the sheer exhaustion, the fear, the hopelessness. I hope most of all you don't go so long without oxygen, it scars and damages your brain. January 2020 and October 6, 2021, may not hold meaning for you- however, they are dates my family will never forget. Covid first hit the US in January 2020, and I first lost consciousness on October 6th. I wasn't dealt a fair hand of cards in life; at 15, I made a conscious decision. A decision to stand and fight or to give up and succumb to the pressure that surrounded me. I have spent most of my high school years fighting. I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. The first round of Covid caused Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, and POTS-with rare arrhythmias. The second round of Covid left us even more broken, in sheer panic. My heart was falling from Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. Asystole. Neurologically, I am healing and have just recovered from my third, yes third, pacemaker surgery in two years. The first gave life back but failed at the 6-month mark. I am allergic to Titanium. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-now I do. The first golden heart installed at the Children's Hospital. I missed my first prom; I was in surgery. I wasn't able to attend the senior ring ceremony; I was in the hospital for bandage changes. So many things were missed. I believe we are all here on earth with purpose. My purpose doesn't end at the document I just received from the hospital- "Severely Disabled-Stage IV". No, thank you. I have fought and will continue to fight through college, too. Whatever it takes, I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong and resilient, I am a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is. How precious it is and to never take it for granted. While I fought, I am proud to say I hold a 3.5 GPA-most worked on through hospital admits, seizures, and surgeries. I am proud. I am thankful. I am still here. I see my future self somewhere in a hospital setting, possibly educational. I want to be the one alongside someone fighting, no matter what the fight may be. To be their strength when they have none left, their voice when they can't find theirs. My parents say everything is okay; they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know that alongside the credit cards, they have emptied their accounts. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. They say that's what parents do. They fight for their children. My entire life I have been told that I will not walk in my parents shoes living paycheck to paycheck. My parents have fought long enough for me. I will spend all day, any spare moment I have, writing, and fighting now for scholarships to help remove the educational burden from them. Thank you for being there to ease the financial burden of families in need. To allow them a moment in time to not worry, a moment in time to smile instead of fight. From my golden heart to yours, Jayden Gross

I hope you never feel the pain of fighting for your life, the sheer exhaustion, the fear, the hopelessness. I hope most of all you don't go so long without oxygen, it scars your brain. January 2020 and October 6, 2021, may not hold meaning for you; however they are dates my family will never forget. Covid first hit the US January 2020 and October 6th was the first time my parents found me unconscious . Neither Jack nor I was handed a fair hand of cards in life. At 15 he, and I both had to make a conscious decision. A decision to stand and fight or to give up and succumb to the pressure that surrounded us. I have spent most of my high school years fighting. I chose to fight, just as he did. I am the side of Covid no one sees or even remembers. First round of Covid caused Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia with POTS-and rare arrhythmias. Second round of Covid left us even more broken, in sheer panic. My heart was falling from Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. I was in cardiac arrest at 15. First pause noted was 12 seconds, second pause 14, third pause 18. My heart held these runs of back-to-back pauses for almost two minutes until it came back. Asystole. No heartbeat-a thin line on a strip of paper. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. Neurologically, I am healing and have just recovered from my third, yes third, pacemaker surgery in two years. The first gave life back but failed at the 6-month mark. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-Now I do; the first installed at the Children's Hospital. I missed my first prom; I was in surgery. I wasn't able to attend the senior ring ceremony; I was in the hospital for bandage changes. So many things were missed. I believe we are all here on earth with purpose. My purpose doesn't end at the hospital document I just received; "Severely Disabled-Stage IV". No thank you. I have fought and will fight through college, too. Whatever it takes, I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, I am resilient, I am a fighter. I possess empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is. To never take it for granted. I have fought the heart and Epilepsy from the brain scarring-I am still here fighting. I see my future self somewhere in a hospital or educational setting. To be the one alongside someone fighting, no matter what their fight may be; to be their strength when they have none left; their voice when they can't find one. My parents say everything is okay; they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know that along the credit cards, they have emptied their accounts. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. They say that's what parents do. They fight for their children. I will spend all day, any spare moment I have, writing, and fighting now for scholarships to help remove the educational burden from them. Thank you for sharing Jack’s story, I hope to one day share mine and ease the financial burden of a family in need just as you are now. To allow them a moment in time to not worry, a moment in time to smile instead of fight. From my golden heart to yours, Jayden Gross

I hope you never feel the pain in fighting for your life, the sheer exhaustion, the fear, the hopelessness. I hope most of all you don't go so long without oxygen it scars so long it damages your brain. January 2020 and October 6, 2021, may not hold meaning for you- however they are dates my family will never forget. Covid first hit January 2020, and October 6th I first lost consciousness. I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers because it didn't take everyone’s child. It took me. First round of Covid caused Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, and POTS-with rare arrhythmias. The second round of Covid left us even more broken; in sheer panic. My heart was falling from Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. I was in cardiac arrest, at 15. First pause noted was 12 seconds, second pause 14 seconds, third pause-16 seconds. My heart held these runs of back to back pauses for almost two minutes until it returned to baseline and came back. Asystole. No heartbeat-a thin line on a strip of paper. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. A thin line that confirmed beyond my worst nightmare. Neurologically I am healing. Where they once found possible cerebral brain dysfunction, full focal slowing of the brain, and rare epileptic discharges-now with a constant heartbeat-it is healing. I have just recovered from my third, yes third pacemaker surgery in two years. The first gave life back but failed at the 6 month mark. I am allergic to Titanium. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-Now I do! I believe we are all here on earth with purpose, my purpose doesn't end at the document I just received- "Severely Disabled-Stage IV". No thank you, I have fought and will continue to fight through college too. Whatever it takes, I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, I am resilient, a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is and to never take it for granted. I knew I had died that day, I don't talk about it with anyone. The truth is, God is the reason I am still here. The reason I keep fighting. The day I flatlined, the peace that consumed me, the love that surrounded me, the words spoke to me. Because of this experience- It forever changed me, it would change anyone. He placed his hand on my heart, and his words were simple, "It's not your time". Against every report, "Its not my time". I read the bible, talk with him everyday, I pray as he stands beside me. I am proud of the God fearing woman I am. I am thankful-I am still here. And if my time comes, I will stand before him a testimony, the testimony of a pure teenager that has lived through more than any child should have; but lived it with him by my side. My parents say everything is okay, they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know that alongside credit cards, they have emptied the accounts. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. They say that's what parents do. They fight for their children. I will spend all day, any spare moment I have writing, and fighting now for scholarships to remove the educational burden from them. From my golden heart to yours, Jayden Gross

I hope you never feel the pain in fighting for your life, the sheer exhaustion, the fear, the hopelessness as I have. I hope most of all you don't go so long without oxygen it scars so long it damages your brain. January 2020 and October 6, 2021, may not hold meaning for you- however they are dates my family will never forget. Covid first hit January 2020, and October 6th I first lost consciousness. I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. I was in cardiac arrest, at 15. First pause noted was 12 seconds, second pause 14 seconds, third pause-16 seconds. My heart held these runs of back to back pauses for almost two minutes until it returned to baseline and came back. Asystole. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. This run caused scarring on my brain, and now have epilepsy. I have just recovered from my third, yes third pacemaker surgery in two years. The first gave life back but failed at the 6 month mark. I am allergic to Titanium. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-Now I do! Why? Why did this happen to me following Covid-that was the million dollar question I asked of every doctor I encountered. Two years into the fight came a Long- Haul specialist researching why and what cases like mine have in common. Ehlers Danlos Hypermobile Syndrome. That was the catalyst, the match that ignited the flame of destruction. My aches, my joints, my odd flexibility, lots of things made sense. Most of all why my life went from seasonal allergies to a fight to live. I have spent most of my high school years fighting. I cannot write that of a normal teenage bio, they weren't my hand of cards. I missed my first prom, I was in surgery. I wasn't able to attend the senior ring ceremony, I was in the hospital for bandage changes. So many things were missed. Not just for heart, but debilitating fatigue. A fatigue I continue to fight everyday. I believe we are all here on earth with purpose, my purpose doesn't end at the document I just received- "Severely Disabled-Stage IV". No thank you, I have fought and will continue to fight through college too. Whatever it takes, I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today. I have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, I am resilient, a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is and to never take it for granted. While I fought, I am proud to say I hold a 3.5 GPA and walking on time with my class. Assignments were worked on through flatlining, hospital admits, surgeries and homebound school status. I am proud. I am thankful. I am still here. These hospital trips (5 hours south) sit on my parents credit cards, along with the basic needs when my mom had to stop working to care for me. They say everything is okay, they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know that alongside those cards, they have emptied the accounts. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. They say that's what parents do. They fight for their children. I will spend all day, any spare moment I have writing, and fighting now for scholarships to remove the educational burden from them. From my golden heart to yours, Jayden Gross

I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers. Prior to the virus my medical history consisted of "seasonal allergies". Post Covid my heart began falling from Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. I was in cardiac arrest, at 15. Asystole. No heartbeat-a thin line on a strip of paper. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. Not just a pause, but repeated pauses that occur back to back for sometimes almost two minutes. I wasn't handed a fair hand of cards in high school, nor was I with the device that saved my life. While fighting the heart, I simultaneously began fighting a new fight; Epilepsy. Without oxygen to my brain, it left scarring over my temporal lobe. I have been told I am at a high risk of SUDEP, that I am Tonic-Clonic, Myoclonic, Focal. We are three years into a fight that still holds little to no answers. Neuro says it’s my heart, Cardio says it's my brain. I say I just need answers. I've just recovered from my third pacemaker surgery in two years. It took over a year to find that my body was rejecting the pacemakers because I am allergic to titanium. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-Now I do! The first golden pacemaker installed at the Children's Hospital. I remember flatlining and dying, it's something you will never forget. I am lucky, there are only a few times I am locked stiff-but still retain and know what is happening. I normally lose consciousness and gasp awake to my mom rocking me in her arms screaming my name-that I will also always remember. I cannot write that of a normal teenage bio, most of my assignments were submitted from a hospital trip or the bed. I missed my first of many things. Dating, driving a car, my first kiss. Prom I was in surgery, Senior Ring Ceremony I was admitted into the Cardiac ICU due to infection. The list only kept growing. Through this I still believe we are all here on earth with purpose, my purpose doesn't end at my recently received "Severely Disabled-Stage IV" letter from the hospital. No thank you, I have fought and will continue to fight through college too. I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, resilient, and I am a fighter. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is and to never take it for granted. Most of all I am proudly graduating on time, walking with my class holding a 3.5 GPA. I hope to find myself in the hospital setting. Xray tech, Child Care Specialist, or Psychology. I want to be the one standing beside them to say, I was once you. I want to empower them and give them strength-I want to make them smile. I want to show them, I made it and to keep fighting. I want them to know you are not just a patient file, you are important. My parents say everything is okay, they say we are financially stable. I know better. I know they have emptied the accounts, maxed their cards-all to keep fighting. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt they will never tell me the amount of. So I write, I submit to scholarships. I will submit to everyone I can find in hopes of easing any of their burden. I am not sure where my life will lead; but I do know a strong woman will be standing in that position. To google define honor, I am drawn to the second one: (2) to fulfill (an obligation) or to (keep an agreement). My agreement in honor of Arlin Diaz, is simple. To not give up. To not allow the bad reports, days, and heartbreak to define me. To continue to continue fighting until we do have the answers. That in the bad days, I will find the beauty in the bouquet of flowers my mom places on the table aside me, that the smile they give me carries me. Attached is a view of my some of my fight, my ending photo is where I fight to stay. Me, not a failing heart or brain-just me. From My Golden Heart To Yours Jayden Gross

I am the side of Covid no one sees, knows, or even remembers because it didn't take every child- it took me. First round of Covid caused Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, and POTS-with it came passing out with rare arrhythmias. The second round of Covid left us even more broken and in sheer panic. My heart was falling from Tachycardia, to Bradycardia, then out. I was in cardiac arrest, at 15. First pause noted was 12 seconds, 14 seconds, third pause-16 seconds. My heart held these runs of back to back pauses for almost two minutes until it came back. This scarred my brain. Asystole. No heartbeat-a thin line on a strip of paper. The unshockable rhythm, code blue. A thin line that confirmed beyond my worst nightmare, the thin line that gives me nightmares still today. Dying isn't something you can forget; as badly as I would like to. I cannot write that of a normal teenage bio, they weren't my hand of cards. I missed my first prom, I was in surgery. I wasn't able to attend the senior ring ceremony, I was in the hospital for bandage changes. So many things were missed. I have just recovered from my third, yes third pacemaker surgery in two years. The first gave life back but failed at the 6 month mark. Heart halter placed showed “rare supraventricular ectopy” with 14 noted pauses within the 24 hour halter. Enter revision surgery. Leads and Wires were changed. Within 6 weeks, I was admitted to the Cardiac ICU fighting infection. From that- It only got worse. I am the 0.5% allergy to titanium. Everyone always said, I had a heart of Gold-Now I do! A true golden heart pacemaker. The first golden heart installed at NOLA Children's Hospital. I awake everyday to a pill caddy that looks like that of an 80 year old woman, and I fight. I believe we are all here on earth with purpose, my purpose doesn't end at the document I just received- "Severely Disabled-Stage IV". No thank you, I have fought and will continue to fight through college too. Whatever it takes, I will succeed. I am proud of who I am today, and have learned much of myself I never knew. I am strong, I am resilient, a fighter redefining my success. I possess the empathy and compassion most will never know, because I know how fragile life is, how precious it is and to never take it for granted. Enjoy every moment, every second. We are not promised tomorrow. While I fought, I am proud to say I hold a 3.5 GPA. No its not a 4.0, its a 3.5 that was mostly worked on through bedridden, hospital admits, and surgeries. I am proud. I am thankful. I am still here. I can only imagine how deep the medical debt goes, a debt my parents will never tell me the amount of. They say that's what parents do. They fight for their children. I will spend all day, any spare moment I have writing, and fighting now for scholarships to remove the educational burden from them. From my golden heart to yours, Jayden Gross