My name is Charles “Steve” Turner. I will be 52 y/o Sept 28th. I live in Duplin County, NC. I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) in 2002 and from there with Cardiomegaly. As a former Army Reservist of 15 years, I had to be tough, follow orders and report for duty, but for the past 10 years, every 6 months, I follow up with my heart transplant team at Duke Medical Center in Durham NC and that is the toughest duty of all. Duke is 140 miles, one way, from home. The travel and time spent making these trips is a financial burden for my family and myself. I used to farm, I loved nothing better than preparing the earth and watching plants grow from seedling to crops. With my medical condition, I can not physically tolerate the effort needed to farm. I fulfilled the desire to grow by trying to have a small garden, but for the past year I have not been able to sustain the energy needed to attend my garden.
My CHF has now reached the final stage. I have been in the hospital more than I have been home for the past 2 months. I was discharged home with continuous IV medication to help my heart function, and for about 2 weeks it worked. Then the medicine alone was not enough to support my heart function and I am back in the hospital. My grandchildren do not understand why I am not home with them. My wife has had to miss work to accommodate my needs. Today I am receiving a left ventricular assist device or LVAD, as my heart transplant team has told me that my heart is not strong enough to sustain my life until I can receive a new heart. The LVAD is a temporary fix until I can receive a new heart.
Though I have insurance to help cover the expenses of the transplant, it does not cover all the medical expenses that have and will incur during this difficult time of waiting for a transplant, the transplant itself, or the care and travel needed post-transplant. I desperately need your help. I need all the donations that can be spared, be it prayers, moral support, encouragement, or monetary, every donation will be greatly appreciated. The trips to Duke, the hospitalizations, rehab post-transplant, post-transplant medications, follow-up appointments, and general living expenses while my wife is out of work taking care of me will add up to more than insurance will cover or that I can afford alone.
A new heart will help transform my life, one that can be made possible by each of you. I want to be able to see my garden grow, but more importantly, I want to see my grandchildren grow. With your help, it’s possible.
Thank you and God Bless,
Steve and the Turner Family
Donations to Help Hope Live in Steve’s honor, will help ease the financial burden of the transplant and allow Charles to focus on staying healthy to receive his heart.
Steve has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility to the full extent allowed by law for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the GIVE button. And please consider sharing this link with others so they may donate as well.
Thank you for your prayers, support, and generosity.
For Checks:
Make checks payable to:
Help Hope Live
Note in memo section:
In honor of Charles Turner
Please send to:
Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087
For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.
