We know everyone is wondering what is going on, some of you know. On Saturday, October 10th, we received the phone call, a beautiful set of lungs were being offered to our son. Craig really didn’t have much time to take this all in. I don’t know if you can ever be completely ready for that call. Our doctors told all of us that this truly was a miracle gift, one that I will spend the rest of my life trying to repay.
As a newborn, we recognized signs Craig might have cystic fibrosis (CF). His doctors confirmed it. Craig could enjoy a relatively normal childhood but by the end of high school his health started to deteriorate. He missed school and the more typical teen milestones like prom. Craig could no longer do the things he loves, boxing and riding his Harley. Though he tried to keep a job, there were too many sick days. In September of 2014, a port was being surgically implanted when his lung was punctured. He never fully recovered. His doctors knew a transplant was in the near future for him.
The transplant surgery was started late on Sunday and by Monday morning we were informed that they were finished. The staff at the University of Pennsylvania are truly amazing, absolutely the best we’ve ever encountered. I know it’s impossible to save everyone, but they try. Several weeks have gone by now and Craig slowly improves, but we are reminded he is so far from being out of the woods.
As you can imagine the expenses related to Craig’s transplant and follow-up care continue to mount. Even with insurance, there are out-of-pocket costs from co-pays and deductibles, expensive anti-rejection medication Craig will need to take for the rest of his life, tolls and parking for clinics and doctor visits.
To help with the financial burden of Craig’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 Mid-Atlantic Lung Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider a contribution.
Please know all your continued prayers are making a difference; keep them coming. We also ask you to send prayers to the family who is suffering from the terrible loss of their loved one. Their selfless gift has given Craig his second chance. The first breath he took on his own was truly amazing and every small step our son takes forward bring tears of joy. We will be forever grateful to each of you for taking this journey with us.
With sincere gratitude,
The Konowal Family-
Craig, Susan, Craiggy, Kevin, Kyle, and Caitlyn
