Darla’s heart had been gradually getting worse. After years of monitoring her condition, her doctor determined that she needed surgery to repair her aortic and mitral valves. While the surgery was initially successful, just a week later, Darla became so sick that she could no longer eat.

Testing revealed that the valve repair had failed, causing blood to leak into her abdomen and leading to dangerous complications with her liver and kidneys.

She urgently needed a heart transplant.

After spending 45 days in the hospital, Darla received a donor heart. But her journey was far from over. She now faced a long and demanding recovery, including cardiac rehabilitation that required her to remain near her medical team in Denver.

Far from home and focused on regaining her strength, Darla needed a safe, comfortable place to recover.

Fortunately, that’s when she found Brent’s Place.

At Brent’s Place, Darla had a spacious apartment where she could rest, recover, and welcome visiting family. Having a full kitchen also gave her a sense of independence and a way to return to some of the everyday routines she had missed while in the hospital.

“Having a full kitchen meant I could cook my own meals,” Darla said. “It kept me active and let me make some comfort food, which was wonderful after being in the hospital.”

But Brent’s Place offered Darla more than a place to stay. It gave her a community of people who understood what it meant to face a serious medical journey far from home.

“I love that Brent’s Place brought people together,” Darla shared. “I met other transplant patients, including someone else with a heart transplant. It was so nice to talk to people going through similar things.”

As a naturally social person, Darla found comfort and connection in the many opportunities to spend time with other residents. Knitting club, bingo nights, card-making classes, and cooking classes gave her ways to stay active and engaged during recovery. She also enjoyed outings, including a trip to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

These moments of connection brought a sense of normalcy to a time that had otherwise been defined by hospitals, procedures, and recovery.

“I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else than Brent’s Place,” Darla said.

Today, Darla is continuing to recover and attending cardiac rehabilitation regularly as she prepares to return home. After everything she has been through, having a supportive place to heal—and a community that understands the journey—has made an important difference.

And when Darla needs to return to Denver for follow-up care, Brent’s Place will be here to welcome her back. No matter what comes next, she’ll always have a home away from home at Brent’s Place.

Support families like Darla’s today.