Family and friends of Jay Hamilton are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to help fund some of his uninsured medical expenses associated with scleroderma and lung transplantation. Please read through this profile to see if you can help out by covering out-of-pocket expenses for a trip to the doctor’s office (about $50), a month’s worth of copays for medication (about $100 — before transplant), or contribute to larger expenses.
Jay has systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) with lung involvement. First diagnosed in 2013, he can trace the signs of breathlessness back to 2010 and is now on oxygen support 24/7. He began transplant evaluation in 2013 and has been in the “on deck circle” since 2016, meaning he has cleared all the medical and non-medical prerequisites for a lung transplant, but has not been sick “enough” to be listed in the New York area. But the time for listing is getting close at hand.
Updates (4)
August 28, 2020
It happened!!
So.... alot has happened since our last update!
Jay was officially put on the Lung Transplant List in late January.
We had to answer every phone call and be ready to go at any moment. He was approved for a right lung transplant, left lung transplant or double lung transplant.
He continued to see his doctors and keep his tests up to date but we didn't hear anything from/regarding the list for several months.
His first "organ offer" was May 8th.
An "offer" means a transplant coordinator calls us with preliminary information and asks if we want to accept it. Jay was the "single lung back up" for that offer. -that means the primary recipient HAS to have a double lung transplant. He did not end up getting a transplant that day; that's called a 'Dry run'.
Each dry run still requires going to the hospital, getting admitted to pre-op, getting a COVID test, drawing 15 vials of blood, a chest x-ray and many hours of waiting.
Jay had 3 more dry-runs from mid-June through early August.
But it all paid off !!!
Jay had a single lung transplant a little over a week ago!!
The surgeon described the surgery as having gone "very well". Jay is still in the hospital and making good progress.
There will be many concerns and challenges on the road ahead but right now things are looking very good.
Thank you so much for all of your positive thoughts and caring prayers.
-Christine
January 25, 2020
January 25, 2020
I am Listed!
It has been seven years since I was first told a Lung Transplant was in my future. Its been seven years of waiting -- for the REAL waiting to begin.
Thank you for your help on this journey and the rest of the adventure to come.
Photo Galleries (1)
Guestbook
February 12, 2020
This has been such a long road already—hoping for a checkered flag soon, meaning it’s done, and you won!
Peter and Christina Fairweather
February 4, 2020
Get well soon! From your Putnam Valley neighbors Meg & Drew Brown
Andrew Brown
January 29, 2020
Sending love and prayers.
Anonymous
