April 3, 2025 — A Clovis family is rallying around their loved one after a life-saving heart transplant at Stanford Hospital. Michael Wilkinson, 47, has been battling heart problems for 14 years, enduring multiple procedures and medication adjustments to extend his life. Now, with a new heart, he faces a long road to recovery.
Wilkinson was placed on the heart transplant list on March 12, and just 13 days later, he received the call that a donor heart was available. On March 25, he was wheeled into the operating room at 6:30 p.m., where surgeons worked tirelessly for 14 hours to complete the procedure. The next morning, his wife, Tiffany Wilkinson, received the call confirming that the surgery was a success.
Though the surgery was successful, the Wilkinson family now faces significant financial hurdles. Michael must remain in the hospital for at least a month before relocating to temporary housing near Stanford for three to six months of post-transplant care. The cost of staying at an RV park near the hospital—$2,500 per month plus utilities—adds to the strain of maintaining their Clovis home…