Our friend Donna has courageously battled Pulmonary Fibrosis for many years. She's not a smoker and they have deemed her "idiopathic"-meaning "NO known cause". Five years ago she was given 1 year to 18 months to live without a double lung transplant. Doctors gave her grim statistics. Donna set out on a mission to delay a transplant as long as possible. Six months into her 1-year prediction of death by doctors, Donna shocked her transplant team and was off oxygen and living her best life. Donna had done experimental stem cell therapy, changed her diet and exercise and put A LOT of FAITH IN GOD!

Donna realized one day a lung transplant was going to be inevitable. She went through endless tests and interviewed multiple transplant hospitals until she found a good fit. She also spoke with transplant patients to prepare mentally and physically - what she never imagined were the costs involved that are not covered by insurance that will continue for the rest of her life. Her husband has to be in Cleveland for the 3-month duration as her caregiver and cannot work. Accommodations not covered by insurance will range from $6500-$18000 depending on availability. She has been given an estimate of $500-$750/month (FOR LIFE) for the anti-rejection medication co-pays. In the event of having to be life flighted she needed to sign that she understands her cost will run approximately $11,000.00. These are just a few of the costs involved - it's unimaginable. 

This has made me realize that this could happen to any one of us at any time. Donna is a very good friend and person to many. She continues to help others even while battling this debilitating disease. I think that someone with a heart as big as hers deserves every chance at life without the constant worry of the financial burden it is going to be for her for the rest of her life.

So please open your hearts to someone truly in need and give what you can. If we all come together, we can take a HUGE burden off her plate and let her focus on the fight of her life. And PLEASE SAY A PRAYER-GOD IS LISTENING!