William Billy Stauffer

Wheeling, IL

North-Central Transplant Fund

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In honor of William Billy Stauffer

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Please Help Our Brother Survive!

Billy Stauffer’s life has been thrown into upheaval since the time he was diagnosed with emphysema, fibrosis and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). His condition had worsened over time to the point where a lung transplant was needed in order to survive and to survive with an improved quality of life. He is currently at Northwestern Hospital in downtown Chicago. As he was completing the required testing, we received the call and late Sunday night, on July 24th, Billy received the gift of life! His surgeon was able to give him a double lung transplant. The surgery went well, but Billy is not out of the woods yet. He has a long road to recovery and needs your help!

Billy has had to overcome many obstacles in his life. When he was just 6-months-old, our mother had a stroke which paralyzed her right side. The five of us children became very close, and we learned how to work together and take care of each other. Billy, being the youngest child and still living at home, helped to take care of our aging parents. Until being admitted into the hospital, he lived with his sisters Carolyn and Pam who took great care of him. He also has a brother Raymond and sister Lynda who will be helping with his recovery and hospital visits. His daughter Stephanie lives close and is with him on a regular basis and will also be there for him to help with his recovery.

Transplants are lifesaving but financially draining. Even with Medicare coverage, there are co-pays and deductibles. Anti-rejection medication costs could top $20,000 and we anticipate some will not be covered by Medicare. These are medications he will need to take for the rest of his life and he reaches his prescription drug donut hole very quickly each year. Also a caregiver is required to stay downtown close to the hospital so we are looking into lodging and the cost of parking is adding up quickly. Once transplanted, he will need to be at the clinic at Northwestern Hospital for follow up visits three or four times a week. These expenses are more than we as a family can handle on our own.

To help with the financial burden of Billy’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in his honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live in the North-Central Lung Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider a contribution.

For credit card contributions, please click the yellow Donate Now button.

Billy’s greatest joy is spending time with his daughter, Stephanie, and his family. Billy is looking forward to no longer being tethered to his 50-foot hose connected to his four oxygen tanks. He has a second chance at life and appreciates the opportunity he is given. If we all work together, we can make Billy’s prospects for the future much brighter. We thank you for your continued prayers, support, and generosity.

Billy’s siblings-

Carolyn Kueffner
Raymond Stauffer
Lynda Root
Pam Kreeger (708-280-6183, pkreeger2@yahoo.com )

November 19, 2016

Okay friends I will only do this once because it's downright embarrassing . I had to buy a 12 year old car to make it to the city 3 times a week . I know we all have our problems but I had a choice of dying or paying an extravagant amount of money to live . I'm not talking about all my other medical bills I just want to tell you about my prescriptions. I hit my donut hole at 3 months I take 30 pills a month 3 AR anti-rejection which insurance pays $2,100 a month. so after 3 months I pay 50% that's just three out of 30. Now they tell me I have to get all my teeth pulled and get dentures because an infection in my mouth will kill me . So any help you can give me on my will be greatly appreciated thanks everybody. Billy

August 15, 2016

Today Billy had his first follow-up visit since being home from the hospital. They took all 57 staples out of his chest and a stubborn stitch that was in his neck.

The medications are making him a little nauseous and his back is giving him some trouble. Next week he sees a pain specialist for his back pain. :(¿

August 12, 2016

DAY18

Billy came home today! He's resting comfortably in his sleep number bed! No matter how great your care is, home is the best place to recover.

August 10, 2016

DAY 16

What a great day! Billy now has no breathing tubes of any kind in him! He had his first coke (couldn't find a Pepsi in the whole hospital) and just a bite of a donut to make him happy. No more feeding tube, and trach is healing nicely. Although air does escape through the hole sometimes, he good naturedly calls himself a squeaky toy! He has a new room with a private bath and shower and he can walk to it on his own. His room is right across from the nurses station where we were informed they put the rascals! The nurses are great to him and they help him to keep his spirits up. We cannot thanks all of you who have gone through this journey with us enough. There is no greater feeling than knowing people care. Billy still has a long road ahead, but it's great knowing he has so much love in his life.

August 9, 2016

DAY 15

We just received great news from the doctor. They say Billy will be in a room tomorrow without the feeding tube so he'll be able to eat. By the weekend he should be able to come home.

August 8, 2016

DAY 14

Billy is getting more spunky every day. I asked him if it was as bad as he thought it was going to be before surgery. He told me he was having good days and bad days. He said today was a good day. He shaved today, went for a couple walks, put on his big boy pants himself ( they finally gave him pants) and his Cubs won. Tomorrow he may even get a Pepsi. Life is good.

August 7, 2016

DAY 13

It is just such a miracle to see Billy's progress in the past 13 days. He's worked hard to get where he is, but everyone's kind thoughts, wishes, and prayers has also played such an important role and we, his family, thank each and every one of you for being there for him.

August 6, 2016

DAY 12

Billy had a rough night last night. He had the nurse from hell. As a result, he said he was having a bad day today. He was discouraged and didn't, at first, want to do as much as he usually does. But he surprised everyone. He walked 250 feet today, not once, but twice. At the end of the day, the charge nurse came in and talked to Billy. She was very concerned and reassured Billy that he would not have that nurse again.

August 5, 2016

DAY 11

Today they took Billy completely off the ventilator but he is still getting some assistance with oxygen. He still has in the Trach so he still can't talk but he's able to write what he wants to say. He looks great!

Yay, Billy walk 205 feet today! The PT and OT staff are really impressed with his progress.¿

August 4, 2016

DAY 10

Billy had a great day today. He took 90 steps, and all the tubes except for the trach are out of his neck. He's making great progress and smiling too!

August 2, 2016

DAY 9

Billy had another good day. He spent a good part of the day breathing on his own. They took a couple more tubes out of him. He worked really hard with OT and PT and the respiratory team. Getting stronger every day!¿

August 2, 2016

DAY 8

One of his nurses is Anna, she said Billy holds a special place in her heart. I think she holds a special place in his too! These nurses are right on top of his care and we couldn't ask for a more compassionate staff to put the life of our brothers hands in.

August 1, 2016

DAY 7

Today was the best I've seen Billy since his surgery. He did his exercises for the nurse and followed their instructions very well. He opened his eyes and acknowledged every question that was asked of him. Earlier today he was sitting in a chair and he took two shuffle steps back to the bed with a little help from the nurses but they were very pleased that he actually stood up on his own and walked. He is definitely on the road to recovery now. We feel very blessed.

July 30, 2016

DAY 6

Billy had a tracheotomy yesterday. They are no longer sedating him and reduced his painkiller therefore he is more alert but in more pain. They found a blood clot in his neck where the ECMO machine tubing was located. They now need to put him on blood thinners. They say these things are not uncommon for lung transplant patients.

Today he is much better. He's focusing and correctly responding to most questions. Since he's more alert and not trying to pull out his tubes they were able to take off the mittens! (yeah) They are planning to sit him up in a chair soon. :)

Please keep him in your prayers.

July 29, 2016

DAY 4

Just an update on Billy. He came through the surgery great. The doctors were very pleased with how things went. That was 4 days ago. Today he still has not regained total conciousness and when they try to reduce his sedatives he becomes agitated and tries to rip out his tubes. He does not focus on anything or follow any commands at this time and has to be put back under sedation.The doctors have run tests and say they came back fine, but are still concerned with his progress. Please keep your prayers coming, we love him so much.

July 28, 2016

DAY 3

When the pain killer or sedation wears off, he struggles to free his arms and he tries to move his face back-and-forth to get rid of the breathing tube. He opened his eyes a few times but he does not seem to focus. Not sure he recognized us. He was not responding to commands today. They did tell us not to worry because many of these problems were normal.

The breathing tube is not going to come out today. Hopefully tomorrow. His ammonia levels are high and They think it may be caused from a bug. It is something that they can treat. We will find out more tomorrow. They just want him to rest tonight.

July 26, 2016

DAY 2

We just left Billy's hospital room he's doing really well. They took one of the life-support machines off him today and tomorrow they plan on taking out the breathing tube. He looks good. The doctor says he'll be taking his new lungs out for a stroll very soon.

July 25, 2016

DAY 1

Billy Stauffer came out of surgery this morning and the doctors said he's doing great. Thank you for all your prayers!

July 25, 2016

Evening surgery started

They just came to take Billy down to surgery many prayers please, he's very afraid but putting on a good front.

July 24, 2016

Sunday 7/24 1:30pm

Billy Stauffer HAS A DONOR!! Surgery is tonight!! PLEASE, SAY PRAYERS. He is very scared

July 24, 2016

Billy's thoughts:

Every morning now they come in they say today could be your day. We'll let you know if lungs become available for you. I have to admit I'm scared to death but when I go into surgery I only think to myself if I die before I wake I pray to God my soul to take.

July 18, 2016

My great niece Savannah came to see me today. She's 4 years old and made a wish for me at a fountain at the Premium Outlet Mall in Aurora. She threw her penny in and wished her Uncle Billy didn't have to wear his mask anymore. Love you Savannah

July 16, 2016

They're going to put those tubes back into my neck and groin, it's not fair. I'd rather have Guido break both my knee caps! It's the most painful thing I've ever been through.

July 8, 2016

Our brother Billy has been waiting for over a year to get on a lung transplant list and it has finally happened! He lives with his sisters Carolyn and Pam who take great care of him. He also has a brother Raymond and sister Lynda who will be helping with his recovery and hospital visits. His daughter Stephanie lives close and is with him on a regular basis and will also be there for him to help with his recovery.This fundraiser will help us with gas, parking, hotel costs and anything medical that Billy's insurance won't cover. It would be a great help to our family if you could donate any amount. This will be a long journey for our whole family. Thank you for helping us through it.

August 16, 2016

Billy's journey to a better life

August 16, 2016

Family

August 16, 2016

Billy

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October 15, 2016

Hey Billy!! Wow.......how amazing your doing!! Keep up the good work!! See you soon!!!

Patti

Patti Crane

August 17, 2016

57 staples! That's a lot of metal! Are you going to make something out of it! lol! I am sorry your back is still bothering you and hope the doctors can offer a way to manage it. I hope I can see you soon when you are feeling better I could meet you at NWH and lunch!

Love- Cindy & Rich