After waiting for almost one year her prayers have been answered and on 2/3/17 she was called and received her new small bowel. The recovery journey has just begun. The balance of antirejection meds and daily life will be challenging. The cost alone for these medications can run in to the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Over the past year Patty and her family have lost everything from their home and pets to being away from family and friends. Her entire support system was in CT. Her health needs took a front seat. Now that she in on the other side of the transplant the future is brighter, but still unknown. Where they will land on their feet after they can leave Pittsburgh is unknown. Their dream was to always be in SC. This is still the dream however getting there will be much more difficult after these events that changed her and her families lives forever. The physical and emotional toll has been catastrophic.
Patty is a person with an extremely large heart and personality. Even now she is always thinking about the needs of others. She and her husband Bill have two beautiful daughters, Ashleigh and Haley, who are now far away from them due to these circumstances. Patty had always been involved in her community and church. She was a dedicated volunteer – Patty had been a youth counselor for her local churches for years (St. Francis and Our Lady of the Lakes in New Milford). She was well known throughout her community, respected and loved by so many. She was also an employee at Danbury Hospital for 25 years, where she has been known by so many and respected.
After many years of helping others, Patty continues to need our help. Transplantation, follow up appointments, medications and treatments are extremely expensive. Even with insurance coverage, there are co-pays, deductibles, travel and relocation to Pittsburgh, and many other costs. After transplant, Patty and a caregiver must live near UPMC for up to six months. Bill will need to work to keep afloat which means that family and friends are needed to aid in her recovery. She cannot be alone and needs a caregiver with her 24/7.
Any assistance that can be provided is appreciated to help her heal, remain well, and rebuild what has been lost.
We also want to pray for the family who lost their loved one so Patty can be well again. We think of them every day and pray for their healing. Organ donation is a wonderful gift.
To help with the financial burden of Patty’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in her 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 Northeast Small Bowel Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider making a contribution. To make a donation, click Donate Now.
Thank you for your prayers, support and generosity. Keep an eye on Patty’s campaign page because we will be planning some fundraising events soon and posting updates regularly.
Gratefully,
Anne Wetmore, Patty’s sister
203.494.0287 (Cell) or 203.287.0637(Home)
