MobilityWorks
Accessibility for all: Helping people connect with who and what matters most
Searching...
No results found. Please try modifying your search.
Wes grew up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and graduated from Greater Johnstown High School. Since his illness started, doctors were able to keep him working with a large gas and oil company for five years with medications and an internal cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). After getting fifteen shocks in a row from his ICD, doctors said he was experiencing V-tach storms. In July of 2014, Wes received twenty-eight shocks in a row; After that, doctors told Wes that a new heart was all that would save him. Together, Wes, his family, and best friend, Sean Paxton, along with his family and friends are committed to seeing him through this heart transplant. For the first time in a long time, Wes has hope for the future.
Transplants are life saving but financially draining. Even with insurance Wes is facing high expenses needing caregivers post-transplant, copays, lab fees and the costly anti-rejection medications that Wes will have to take for the rest of his life.
To help with the financial burden of Wes’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 Heart Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider making a contribution.
Thank you for your prayers, support and generosity.
Gratefully,
Sean Paxton, Wes’ best friend
Hello Everyone!
I'm pleased to share the news that Wes has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home in Johnstown, PA. For all that know him, it's no surprise his determined character and resolve are making the difference each day as he continues to regain his strength. For everyone that has been supporting this effort with your thoughts, prayers and generous donations, his family and friends share Wes' sincere gratitude. All of it combines to make a tremendous difference. While he's firmly on the road to recovery, key milestones still lie ahead for him to pass. I'm sure he'll do that with your continued support in thought, prayer and donations to this fund that directly supports his home caregiver expenses, ongoing medication and other needs, related to his new life as a heart transplant recipient. We'll keep you posted as Wes' recovery continues to progress.
Sincerely,
Sean Paxton
Wes' Best Friends Since Childhood
UPDATE. Wes is tentatively scheduled for discharge on the 13th of this month. Thank you again to all who have donated to this fund, which can be used for a variety of needs including ongoing medical and prescription costs not covered by insurance. Donated funds are all tax-deductable and can also be used for post-operative home caregiver volunteer expenses, which will be needed for approximately one month, once Wes is released. These costs include things like travel and other related expenses. As always, Wes extends his sincere appreciation for all your support and well-wishes. I echo those sentiments and respectfully remind you all to continue sharing this Campaign page. Sincerely, Sean Paxton. Wes' friend since childhood.
UPDATE - HOW YOU CAN HELP: Wes is out of ICU and recovering from his heart transplant at UPMC in Pittsburgh. The medical staff there is working working to get his overall strength up enough for him to be discharged and continue his recovery at home in Johnstown, PA. I've received a lot of messages from people, hometown friends and others, asking how they can help with Wes' recovery process. Two ways exist. There is a priority need for volunteers to help with home caregiving upon his discharge. Contact me directly if you might be interested in that important aspect. Also, please read more below about how your generous financial donation support can help with his long road ahead. All tax-deductable funds are received and distributed, as needed, by HelpHopeLive.org, which was established to help people with unmet medical and related expenses due to cell and organ transplants or catastrophic injuries and illnesses. Survival costs can exceed substantial levels very quickly so every dollar counts. Please feel free to share this post. Thank you all. I'll continue to provide updates, as his recovery progresses. -sp-
Originally Posted on Facebook June 26, 2017:
UPDATE: I've been in regular contact with Wes, and every time we talk, he asks me to let everyone know how much he appreciates the support and well-wishes. He's been out of ICU and recovering at UPMC in Pittsburgh. The medical staff there is working working to get his overall strength up enough for him to be discharged and continue his recovery at home in Johnstown, PA. I've received a lot of messages from people, hometown friends and others, asking how they can help with Wes' recovery process. Please read more below about how your generous support can help with his long road ahead. All tax-deductable funds are received and distributed, as needed, by HelpHopeLive.org, which was established to help people with unmet medical and related expenses due to cell and organ transplants or catastrophic injuries and illnesses. Survival costs can exceed substantial levels very quickly so every dollar counts. Please feel free to share this post. Thank you all. I'll continue to provide updates, as his recovery progresses. -sp-
Originally Posted on Facebook, June 14, 2017:
UPDATE: Despite numerous challenges, My lifelong friend, Wes, has been holding his own, supported by round-the-clock care at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Cardiac ICU. He is nowhere near out of the woods and so the fight to recover will continue into the foreseeable future. I did speak briefly with him a few days ago and he was able to extend his appreciation for all the support and well-wishes. I thank you for that as well, and ask you, on his behalf, to consider donating to his fund below. You can read more about how your generous support can help with his long road ahead. All tax-deductable funds are received and distributed, as needed, by HelpHopeLive.org, which was established to help people with unmet medical and related expenses due to cell and organ transplants or catastrophic injuries and illnesses. Survival costs can be exceed substantial levels very quickly so every dollar counts. Thank you all. I'll continue to provide updates, as his recovery progresses. -sp-
Originally Posted on Facebook June 7, 2017:
Wes is in Cardiac ICU. The procedure at UPMC went well from about 7pm to 2am this morning with no complications . They will be working to remove breathing tube today and reducing procedural medications - all routine so far. Routine when it comes to a heart transplant, that is.
Originally Posted on Facebook June 6, 2017:
UPDATE: Wes is prepped and going in for a new heart between 7 and 8pm EST tonight. He'll be receiving a donor organ that came in early today. The procedure typically takes between 6 and 8 hours. We talked to him just a little while ago, and he asked Brooks and I to thank everyone for their continuing support and encouragement. It will be as important as ever, once he's out of the hospital in a few weeks, recuperating at home and getting back on his feet. Wes is a lfelong friend of mine and my family so we extend the same and will share updates when we hear more. #BeADonor
Originally Posted on Facebook June 5, 2017:
Hello Everyone - This is an URGENT update and request for help and shares. A lot of you may already know about my lifelong friend, Wes Mattimore, and that he's been in a hospital in Pittsburgh waiting on a donor heart for a transplant. Well - that time may have come. A donor heart is currently enroute to the hospital to be tested for viability, etc. If this is the one, he'll be going into surgery later today. If not, the wait will continue. When Wes does get the transplant surgery and is out of recovery in the hospital, he's going to need about 4 weeks of home care provided by volunteers. This is essentially someone that can stay at Wes' place in Johnstown, PA to make sure he doesn't miss any medications, drive him to any doctor appointments that may come up, basic errands and miscellaneous tasks. This is why I'm especially reaching out to ask my friends in Johnstown and the surrounding area for your help with this part. That said, anyone can donate to Wes' HelpHopeLive.org fund below. Your generous donations can also help to cover expenses for people that volunteer as caregivers, as well as ongoing expenses with medications, etc. so every dollar counts. There won't be any need for nurse-type duties for home caregiver volunteers, since he'll be capable of showering, eating, and for the most part, taking care of himself. However, this post-operative caregiver component is a mandatory aspect of his qualifying to remain on the transplant list. Wes is a very strong individual so I expect he'll beat the average recovery time of four weeks. I'll be there for the first week when he gets out of the hospital (post-op recovery in hospital can take a few weeks), but we'll need some volunteers to cover the rest of the time during his home recovery period. His son Craig is taking some of the time and we've got a few others working on dedicating some time, as well. It can be as short as one day and people can take turns in shifts around their work schedules and so forth. If anyone dedicate a few days at a time, that would be ideal, but any time at all is greatly appreciated. Thank you all for passing this information along. For anyone interested or if you have any questions, please contact me directly via private message here on Facebook or on my cell: 941-416-1788. THANKS AGAIN for your time, support and for SHARING this (please cut and past my message when you share). All the best to you and yours from me and mine! Sean
Love ya Wes!! Pankoke and I are praying for you!! As well as all the Adams family!! Much love our friend!!
kate David dakota Gunnar lankoke
Prayers going up,,,
Debbie Hamer
Pray'in for you Wes !!!
Gail Zahurak
From my heart and on behalf of my immediate family - Di Paxton (Mother), Brooks Paxton Sr. (Father), Brooks Paxton II (Brother), Scott Paxton (Brother), Tom Larkin (Uncle).
We are forever grateful for the lifetime of friendship we've all shared with Wesley (Wes) Mattimore, his family and our circle of friends from our shared hometown of Johnstown, PA. We are proud to be playing a supporting role in helping Wes overcome this enormous life challenge and we thank everyone for joining us in the cause. Your positive thoughts, prayers and financial donations are all greatly appreciated and will make all the difference in the road ahead. We know, without a doubt, that Wes is up to the toughest part of this overwhelming task; proving time and time again, over recent years that he is among the strongest and bravest people we've ever known; overcoming countless hurdles to reach this critical point in his journey. Wes is now in the hospital, awaiting a transplant in Pittsburgh, and being well-cared for by a staff dedicated medical professionals. Once that day comes, and a transplant surgery is carried out, his recovery process will begin and Wes can start writing the next inspiring chapters of his life. Our thanks, once again, for all your support in making that a reality!
We Love You, Wes!
Sincerely, Sean Paxton and Family
Sean Paxton and Family
Make checks payable to:
Help Hope Live
Note in memo:
In honor of Wes Mattimore
Mail to:
Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center
Suite 100
100 Matsonford Road
Radnor, PA 19087
Donor preference is important to us. Please specify in writing if you wish for your name or donation amount to be kept private.
Subscribe to this campaign to receive updates.
Accessibility for all: Helping people connect with who and what matters most
Building leading-edge mobility products
One of the largest mobility dealers in the U.S.
Consult with specially-trained pharmacists, get your medications for pickup or delivery and more
All news, and all that matters to you
Your first step to optimized communications
The event for the disability community
Born to connect, empower and inspire the rare disease community.
A mobility dealer for wheelchair accessible vehicles and adaptive equipment