Keep Pat’s Miracle Alive!
For the last six years Pat Donovan’s health declined so that even simple activities left him gasping for breath and coughing relentlessly – he was dying. Pat had Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a disease with no known cause, no cure and no treatment other than a double lung transplant.
He had to let go of so much – first outdoor activities with his wife, Kim and two young adult daughters, then helping with home care, eventually his ability to walk into church or to continue working, and finally the ability to get his own meals or care for himself without help. One thing he never let go of was his deep faith and his patient spirit. As he weakened, they seemed to strengthen. Pat was planning his funeral when after only 30 days on the transplant list he received THE CALL and underwent a double lung transplant on July 31, 2016. His new life began!
Pat is healing well and slowly regaining strength but returning to work is long off. Kim, who works in social service, is now the sole earner and has already depleted her paid time off caring for Pat. The uninsured transplant expenses are daunting: travel, lodging, and food for twice monthly trips from his home in central Maine to the Boston transplant clinic; co-pays and deductibles for therapies and the daily medications Pat will need for the rest of his life; and the cost of the radical dietary and lifestyle changes that are necessary to stave off infection and organ rejection.
Please consider a contribution to help Keep Pat’s Miracle Alive! To make a donation which is tax deductible to the full extent of the law, click on the Donate Now button.
Recently Pat, a man of few words, wrote this prayer:
Lord, help me to take this new breath of life that I have received and reflect the light of your love to everyone I encounter.
In the name of Pat’s whole support team,
Anne Donovan Fortier & Kurt Fortier, Pat’s sister and brother-in-law
Updates (23)
December 5, 2017
Thank you for your continued support of Pat on GIVING TUESDAY.
Two things thrill us about your recent gift to HELP HOPE LIVE. One is your generosity. And the other is your continued faith in his health and well being. Bless each and every one of you.
November 21, 2017
Thanksgiving is almost here and we are all SO grateful that Pat is now thriving since receiving his life-saving double lung transplant in July of 2016. One lingering side effect that will be with him for life, however, is significant on-going out-of-pocket medical expenses. If you are planning on doing any year-end charitable giving, please consider a donation to help Pat with those expenses.
If you give on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28th (Giving Tuesday) all credit card fees will be covered so more of your money can go to help Pat!
July 30, 2017
HAPPY 1st ANNIVERSARY of the day you adopted your new LUNGS, PAT!!!!!!
Journal entry by Mary from 7/31/2016
"My dad has been awake and alert. He's doing very well and meeting all of the markers. The doctors are hoping to take him off the breathing tube tomorrow!
When we visited him Brigham and Women's Hospital, he was able to write, "God is good. God is always good."
We are so grateful for this miracle!
We are so grateful to Pat's donor and remember the donor family especially today.
We are so grateful for the loving support.
July 16, 2017
We are two weeks away from a monumental anniversary. The anniversary of the day Pat got his new lungs. THANK YOU, FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS to each and every one of you, your prayers and comments and all the ways you have supported Pat and family during this journey have been incredibly important.
We'd like to gently remind you that the cost of Pat's continued recovery is not free. We continue to work to help raise money for Pat’s lifetime of medical and related out-of-pocket costs as a double-lung transplant recipient.
If you've been thinking about making a donation, his one year lung anniversary is a great time to do it. We are so grateful and we THANK YOU.
April 26, 2017
Pat celebrated his 60th birthday on Saturday, April 22nd! Thanks to his double lung transplant he was able to blow out his birthday candles for the first time in many years! It is hard for all of us to imagine that one year ago he was on15 liters of oxygen per minute.
One of the most common misconceptions about transplantation is that a transplant is a lifelong cure for an illness or health issue. The truth is that transplantation is a treatment, not a permanent cure. Pat's post-transplant recovery is miraculous. It is also terrifying, expensive, complicated, uncomfortable and life-affirming all at the same time. Expensive. We are grateful for your support. THANK YOU. Bless you.
April 17, 2017
Pat is grateful for all of the donations that have come to the Help Hope Live Northeast Lung Transplant Fund in his honor.
One year ago he was not on a transplant list! He and his new lungs have been together for almost eight months and his story is full of faith and the abundance of miracles.
Follow his progress here:
https://www.facebook.com/Breathingwithpat/
March 31, 2017
Follow Pat's progress on https://www.facebook.com/Breathingwithpat/
March 31, 2017
The miracle of Pat's transplant continues, our gratitude is overflowing!
April is Donate LIFE month and naturally we celebrate Pat, who is doing extremely well, slowly and steadily gaining strength at this stage of his recovery. Meanwhile, the need to continue to raise funds for uninsured transplant expenses continues.... The cost of the radical dietary changes that are necessary to stave off infection and organ rejection are real. Co-pays and deductibles are a concern for all of us, for Pat the daily medications he will need for the rest of his life are literally a matter of life and death! Travel, lodging, and food for trips from Pat's home in central Maine to the Boston transplant clinic are not as frequent but they do come with a cost.
February 5, 2017
Heartfelt THANK YOU goes to the Knights of Columbus-Pine Cone Council 114 from Saint Paul the Apostle Parish, Bangor, ME for hosting a Spaghetti Dinner in Pt's honor last night. The Donovan family was surrounded by a generous and supportive community and they are humbled by the outpouring that nearly doubled our fundraising efforts to date!
Bless you, ALL of you. Pictures on the Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Breathingwithpat/
February 1, 2017
Some of the lab work for Pat's Jan. 20th bronchoscopy are back. There are no signs of rejection, which is excellent news. There are some preliminary findings that are concerning and could indicate infection. Because of this, Pat will return for a clinic appointment on Feb. 6th. We were told not to worry. We were also instructed to keep up all of the precautions and exercise. We will absolutely keep up with the precautions to reduce the risk of exposure and spread of germs. Pat will continue to exercise.
January 19, 2017
Pat will head back to Brigham and Women's Hospital, with his sister Anne as his companion and driver on Thursday the 19th for his 6 month ‘bronchoscopy’ procedure on Friday the 20th. Anne is going this time so that Kim will not have to lose 2 days of earnings. The bronchoscopy is a biopsy to look for any signs of rejection or infection in his new lungs. Pat had a bronchoscopy 1 month after his transplant, again at 3 months and now at his 6 month anniversary! Pat will be put under anesthesia for this procedure and so depending on how he feels, even though Anne will be the designated driver this trip, they may spend one more night at Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston and drive back to Maine on Sat. the 21st.
Please keep them in your prayers.
January 6, 2017
Great news....Pat did well with his clinic appointment at Brigham and Women's Hospital this week. His lung function is good, O2 sats very good, x-ray is "perfect". An awesome number on another test indicates that oxygen is getting into all the little nooks and crannies of Pat's lungs.
January 2, 2017
2016 was an amazing year filled with new LIFE from new lungs, overall health transformation for Pat and his family. PRAYER partners around the world and the importance of FAITH, family, friends and your financial support, too.
T H A N KS to each and every one of you from the bottom of our hearts for sharing this journey with us, for praying, hoping and Breathing with Pat!
May 2017 BLESS you and yours with good health, a circle of love, joy, and new adventures.
December 23, 2016
Merry Christmas!
That was then, this is now…
It is trite to say that “so much has changed” since last Christmas. But…so much has changed!
Last year, Pat’s health was not good. His lung function was limited, so he tired easily, which in turn increased his symptoms of coughing and shortness of breath. Planning for holiday celebrations became an exercise in setting priorities; what did we most want to be able to do with Pat? Where could we go and what could we do given Pat’s need for oxygen, his fatigue, exposure to crowds, and limited ability to walk or be active in any way.
As a family, we decided we wanted to attend family gatherings, Christmas Eve Mass and take a ride to see Christmas lights and the coast. We eliminated holiday shopping and gift exchanges. Pat was not well enough to attend the Plisga and Day Company Christmas party. A family gathering took too much of Pat’s energy and he felt unable to attend Christmas Eve Mass. Fortunately, we have lots of options to attend a Mass in our Parish, so we could attend, together, on Christmas morning.
The drive to the coast was bitter sweet. We were able to go together to see the beauty of nature in winter, but there were definite markers of how much Pat’s illness had progressed. Just 4 months earlier Pat had been able to walk out to a lighthouse and explore the shoreline. This time, all he could do was lean on the car and look at the ocean from the parking lot. It was hard not to wonder if we had celebrated our last Christmas all together.
This year, we are aware of all that we have been given in addition to Pat’s restored health through the gift of organ donation. So many experiences give rise to the thought that without that gift, we would not be having this moment, together as a family.
The donor’s family’s great love expressed through the decision of organ donation is a gift that allows us to celebrate Christmas every day.
“Every time we Love, every time we give…it’s Christmas”. (Dale E. Rogers)
December 6, 2016
Re-cap from yesterday's visit to B&W for his regular post-op clinic visit:
Pat's spirometry test: (this is a measure of lung function) functioning is almost identical to the last measure on Nov. 21, 2016 which was improved and are NORMAL! The team is very pleased with the lung functioning.
Pat's kidney function is slightly improved, but still not where it needs to be. Due to the now prolonged poor kidney function. Pat is experiencing some swelling in his ankles. So he be wearing the fashionable support knee-hi "stockings" again. Pat is gaining weight now that his swallowing is easier and he is on a "mechanical soft" diet.
During the appointment Pat and Val, (the PA) took a few minutes to reflect on Pat's dramatic health improvement. Val agrees, it's a miracle.
December 5, 2016
Pat is at Brighman and Women's in Boston this morning for his regular post-transplant clinic visit. Will update with status report hopefully later today. We THANK YOU for keeping Pat in your daily prayers.
November 30, 2016
Pat had blood work on Monday11/28 to see if his kidney function had improved from dehydration that led to hospitalization last week.
GREAT NEWS! Kidney function is improving. There have been some adjustments to his medications and that is good, too.
Meanwhile, those new lungs are still PERFECT.
He goes back to B&W for clinic next Wednesday 12/7.
November 30, 2016
THANKS to everyone who donated on #GivingTuesday. We are so grateful.
Know that we remember all of you and Pat's donor's family in our daily prayers.
Bless you all.
November 28, 2016
Tomorrow, Nov. 29, in honor of #GivingTuesday, HelpHOPELive will #
FreeTheFee! That means your donation to HelpHOPELive in Pat's honor will NOT have ANY credit card fee taken out. No credit card fee = more impact from your donation! #TealDeal THANK YOU!
November 28, 2016
Pat was discharged from Brigham and Women's hospital on Wednesday, November 23rd.
On THANKSGIVING DAY, November 24th, Pat carved the turkey and enjoyed a happy day with his family. He THANKS all of you for your love and prayers during his unexpected hospitalization.
November 22, 2016
Today was a better day for Pat. Let's hope he will be able to go home tomorrow.
November 21, 2016
Pat is being admitted to Brigham and Women's Hospital today 11/21 for a few days. His Kidney lab numbers are elevated and he will be on IV fluids.
November 21, 2016
Pat and Kim are heading to Boston TODAY 11/20 for Pat's clinic visit at Brigham and Women's Hospital TOMORROW 11/21.
Photo Galleries (2)
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Guestbook
November 28, 2017
You are a walking talking miracle! Happy cheers to you! :D
C Cousteau
November 21, 2017
Pat, you don't know me but we are good friends of Russ and Eileen and Rob . I hope you are well and able to enjoy some of out Great ME weather. You are in our prayers and know you will be watched over by God. The best to you.
Pat and Wanda Passero
Pat
February 21, 2017
Pat, I'm very thrilled to learn of your good fortune. My thoughts will be with you.
Korey Booker, Service Representitive at Lincare
January 1, 2017
Pat, Kim and Family
It is indeed a blessing and wonderful news to hear about your gift for a new life. We hope and prayer that your health continues to improve. There is no doubt that gods hand made such a gift possible. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Kevin and Donna Birkel
December 15, 2016
Hang in there Pat and Kim. God has already shown you what he can do. The best is yet to come. God will honor your faithfulness.
Gene and Claudette Gagnon
December 10, 2016
I've been friends with Pat and Kim's daughter Laura for about nine years. She was one of my favorite classmates in high school and is quite possibly the nicest person I've ever met.
Since following Pat's story, I am amazed and inspired by his courage, spirit and faith. It is my wish to see Pat continue to recover and heal.
God Bless and Merry Christmas!
Michael Campbell
December 7, 2016
The Class of 1976 is Honored to be able to help out. You're in our Prayers and know we are behind You! Merry Christmas and Blessings on a Happy New Year.
Bonnie L Paul for Class of 1976
December 5, 2016
You are in my daily prayers. God Bless you and keep you well.
Helen Reagan - Orono
November 30, 2016
Thanks to Carolyn B-A for posting - peace and Godspeed in your recovery...
Karen and Mark Coté
November 29, 2016
Prayers for your continued speedy recovery. I'm a friend of Lynn's -- she is one of your most dynamic supporters!
Barb Deffley - Allentown PA
November 28, 2016
Kim, I am so sorry you and your husband have been going through this! My father in law also had the same condition. Hope he continues getting stronger and healthier!
Tracy Goodridge
November 28, 2016
I don't know you folks, but I know when my daughter was going through Cancer treatments, I had people help us - whom we didn't know!! Blessings given by strangers are TRUE blessings!! God Bless - and Heal Quickly!!
Beverly Mansell
November 18, 2016
Your faith is inspiring to others. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers!
Anet & Jimmy
November 16, 2016
I pray that God will cure you, Pat. I also have a serious lung disease and even though I was supposed to live only a year I have lived 4 years so far. God is good.
Jean and Don Prevatte
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Help Hope Live
Note in memo:
In honor of Pat Donovan
Mail to:
Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center
Suite 100
100 Matsonford Road
Radnor, PA 19087
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