Melvin Willman is a 66-year-old man who is very ill. He has a disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and a lung transplant is his only hope. Melvin is a very kind man with a wonderful sense of humor that brightens the day of everyone he meets. Now he needs the help of our family, friends, and greater community as the costs associated with transplantation can be overwhelming.
Melvin grew up in Evansville, IN. After getting out of the Army, he went to work at a factory called Moll Tool and Plastics where we first met. This September, we will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. We are the proud parents of two wonderful children, Rhianon and Casey. We have also been blessed with 2 grandchildren and another one is on the way. Melvin is looking forward to meeting our new grandson and taking all of our grandkids fishing. Together, Melvin and our family are committed to seeing him through this transplant.
As a hard-working man, Melvin worked at the Railroad for over 35 years to support our family. Melvin was able to retire at the age of 60, but really missed talking with others and telling them jokes. He went to work part-time delivering flowers until this was no longer possible due to his lung disease. According to Melvin, delivering flowers was the best job he ever had. Through the “gift of life”, Melvin looks forward to resuming the active lifestyle that he loves and misses.
Although life-saving, transplants can drain a lifetime of hard-earned savings. Even with insurance, sizable out-of-pocket expenses include medications, lodging, and traveling expenses, most notably airfare to avoid relocation until a lung becomes available. He also has a blockage that will have to be dealt with at the time of the transplant. This presents a challenge that Melvin and our family cannot meet alone.
To help with the financial burden of uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in Melvin’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 of the law, are held by Help Hope Live in the Great Lakes Lung Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider a contribution.
For credit card contributions, please select the “Donate Now” button or call 800.642.8399. Or:
Make checks payable to:
Help Hope Live
Note in memo section:
In honor of Melvin Willman
Please send to:
Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087
On behalf of Melvin and our family, thank you for your prayers, support and generosity. Keep an eye on this campaign page because we will be planning some fundraising events soon and posting updates regularly.
Gratefully,
Mary Willman, Melvin’s wife
