A central Florida woman is raising funds in hopes of improving her quality of life.

Maria Flores, 63, is in dire need of a heart transplant and has set a goal of raising $10,000 in order to prove she can afford to post-transplant care. Like many others in her position, she has to prove she has enough money to cover the necessary medications before she can even be put on the list.

Flores says every day her feet hit the ground she feels blessed.

“I’m grateful now every morning that I wake up that the Lord has given me strength,” said Flores.

After a long career working in public relations, Maria suffered her first heart attack in 2009. By 2012, Maria says doctors told her some of the cells in her heart had died.  Her heart couldn’t take much more.

Now, her only hope is a transplant. Relying on Medicaid and Medicare, and too sick to work with no family to help with expenses, there’s a price Maria must pay to live.

“I’m praying," said Flores. "That’s about all I can do.”

Maria started a fundraising site, and so far she’s raised $685.  She has a long way to go, and in the meantime, Maria is constantly reminded of her race against the clock. 

Even walking one block has become difficult.  Despite that, she stays positive, and doesn’t lose her faith, visualizing the day that she’s reached her $10,000 goal, dreaming of what her life will be after facing death head on.