This is Kenneth “Scott” Harper — as his friends and family call him, Scott. At the young age of 16, Scott was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. In an effort to fight the cancer, Scott underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments to combat his cancer. In the process of the treatments, the radiation did long term damage to Scott’s heart. In 2010, he started having trouble breathing and was eventually diagnosed with congestive heart failure. After triple bypass surgery, Scott’s team of doctors informed him that he needs a new heart, or a lifesaving heart transplant. Without a new heart, Scott’s options will quickly run out and he will sadly run out of time.
As a child, Scott went through a great deal, but despite facing cancer, he has always had a positive attitude. Scott recently married his girlfriend, Dawn of over ten years, and they are ready to enjoy a new life together. They have no children of their own, but have nieces and nephews and are very much animal lovers. They adore the time spent with their family, friends and pets and hope to one day start a family of their own. As a result of his illness, Scott has been out of work and struggling to make ends meet. He faces severe fatigue and swelling, and it has become very difficult to be able to breathe on his own. Scott was let go from his job when he started missing work due to emergency hospital admissions. He can no longer work and the medical bills, trips to Charlotte for doctor visits and the everyday costs of living have become overwhelming. Scott is also facing extensive co-pays and deductibles, caregiver fees, and will be required to relocate closer to the hospital. Scott will soon need costly, post-transplant medications to halt rejection; which are needed for the rest of his life.
Transplants are lifesaving but very expensive, and while having health insurance has been a blessing, it is very limited in what it covers outside of the transplant. With the loss of Scott’s job, he is now having to pay a very high health insurance premium out of pocket. He has started the process of applying for disability, but that can take many months before he is approved. Scott is in great fear of losing his health insurance, his home, and his opportunity for a heart transplant, as his life depends on all of these. Scott is desperate and is asking for your support!
To help with this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Scott’s 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 South-Atlantic Heart Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. Donors can be sure that funds donated will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses. To make a donation to this fundraising campaign, please click on the yellow DONATE NOW button. For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.
Thank you ahead of time for your thoughts, prayers and support. Any donation amount, no matter how big or how small, is one step closer to a brighter future for Scott.
Gratefully,
Scott’s loving family, friends and Community
