Joie Hollis-Trott battled a serious heart condition for 17 years, but never stopped worshipping and praising the Lord.

She died two years ago, aged 45. Her family will host a gospel concert in her honour tonight, at St Paul Centennial Hall.

“The idea for the event came about when we were thinking of ways to keep her memory alive,” said her husband Stephen Trott.

“Joie loved singing, so after she died in September 2015 I decided to form a committee and host different events, partly in tribute to her, but also to raise money to pay for some of her outstanding medical bills.

“We hosted the first concert last year, which had a good turnout, and have also held a few takeaway dinners, which were also well supported.”

A loan from Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association helped pay Mrs Hollis-Trott’s medical bills. The family is now hoping to raise $192,000, to repay the charity.

Mrs Hollis-Trott discovered she had a rare disease causing inflammation of the large blood vessels, Takayasu’s arteritis, in 1998.

The diagnosis came after she complained she was frequently short of breath. Doctors initially told her she had a pinched nerve but she was sure the problem was more serious.

“She went back to the hospital and they did a lot of tests including an MRI and, long story short, the doctors couldn’t believe what they saw in those scans,” Mr Trott said.

“Her heart had ballooned to seven times larger than it normally was. They told her she had to go away right away. That was devastating news for us. That was in January and we were set to get married that May.”

The couple flew to Maryland the next day so Mrs Hollis-Trott could be seen by doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

She had double bypass surgery and her aortic valve was replaced; she went into cardiac arrest twice.

Mr Trott was then a new Christian. He prayed that if God brought her through the operation he would serve Him for the rest of his life.

“Even getting to John Hopkins was a miracle,” he said. “The doctors assumed we got to the hospital by car. When we told them we flew from Bermuda they said with all the air pressure from flying, the aortic valve should have burst.”

It was the first of many trips to the US for Mrs Hollis-Trott.

A later surgery caused damage to her vocal chords. Doctors predicted she wouldn’t be able to talk above a whisper, but she was determined. She went on to become the worship leader at St Paul’s and Shekinah Worship Centre.

“She was a soldier. The strongest person I’ve ever known,” said Mr Trott.

“For 17 years she went back and forth to the hospital. The last time she went back due to complications with her heart she was supposed to have surgery, but her heart was so scarred after so many procedures she was told they couldn’t do anything more and placed her on life support.”

Tonight’s concert will feature performances by Last Call, Whopper Benz, Double J, Shawn Herman, 12-year-old singer Taurean Thomas, Cornerstone Bible Fellowship’s Dance and Mime Ministries, St Paul AME’s Praise Team and Shekina’s Divine Connection.

“We are calling the concert ‘It’s A Lifestyle’ because that was Joie’s signature any time she went in and out of Facebook,” said Mr Trott.

“It was her way of saying I’m a Christian, but it’s more than just a title, it’s a lifestyle. Even after all she had gone through, the many tests and trials, ups and downs, she always tried to live out her faith through her words and actions and be an example.

“Even at those times she felt like giving up, she persevered and encouraged so many people with her testimony. God was number one in her life and she just loved to sing, praise and worship Him.”

Mr Trott’s sister Lisa wants people to come out tonight for what she promises will be an inspirational and encouraging concert.

“I hope people will worship along with the artists and that something said or done will be a means for them to draw closer to Jesus because that’s what Joie embodied. She wanted people to worship, have fun and know it’s not boring to be a Christian.”

Tickets for the 7pm concert are $40 at the door. For information on how to support the Trott family e-mail trotty73@gmail.com.