Debbie was always a very independent person. Her passions in life where taking care of and spending time with her family. She was also a Hospice caregiver and would work between 40-60 hours a week taking care of and providing comfort and love to her clients and their families. When Debbie lost a client it was like losing a family member. She had so much compassion for clients and their families and misses them so much.

Two years ago Debbie was diagnosed with End Stage COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing). In english, she has very little lung capacity left which makes the simplest tasks very difficult.

In the last two years she has been place on a ventilator 4 times. Each time she has to go on a ventilator her recovery becomes more difficult and she loses more and more mobility. During the 4th time she was placed on a ventilator her lung ended up being punctured. This put her in ICU for 30 days. She was placed in a rehabilitation center with a tracheostomy (A tracheostomy is a medical procedure — either temporary or permanent — that involves creating an opening in the neck in order to place a tube into a person’s windpipe) for 4 months. While she was there she had to do pulminary rehab to have the tracheostomy removed.

What does this diagnosis mean for her? Debbie can no longer work at the job she loved so much as a Hospice Care Giver. She can no longer participate in the simplest of activities with her loved ones. Getting from point A to B is a painful struggle because she has such a difficult time breathing. She takes daily Medications to control her anxiety and lung function. Her quality of life has taken a turn for the worse quickly in the last year or so.

There is hope for Debbie! Four months ago her pulmonologist recommended her to Mass General Hospital to seek out a lung transplant.This is a very expensive procedure that involves numerous trips to Boston, with costs including gas and food. She will need medical equipment outside of what her insurance will cover, one piece being a spiometer that costs around $700.00. The most cosstly expense will be the housing in Boston. Once she receives her transplant she will be required to stay at Mass General Hospital for approximatley 30 days and then after that she needs to have a place to stay in Boston for another 30 days. The apartments in Boston range fro $2500-$5000. During this 30 days she will need a caregiver to stay with her at all times. As you can see we really need your help. Feel free to share this campaign with all your freiends and family. Every bit will make a huge difference.

Lets help Debbie get her transplant so that she can have a better quality of life and get back to the things and people she loves. Her greatest wish is to get back to her clients that she misses.

Family and friends of Debbie Johnson are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

Debbie has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility 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.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!