RICHARD NEEDS YOUR HELP!
After being diagnosed with with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in February 2017, Richard has reached the point of needing a double lung transplant in order to survive. Over the past three years he has tried numerous medications and been placed on 02 full-time. There is no cure for IPF and treatments only slow the progression they do not cure it. The only “cure” is a lung transplant and that comes with it’s own risks and treatments as well. He will be on anti-rejection meds and will be traveling to Boston for follow up for the rest of his life. While the insurance will cover the transplant itself there will be extensive tests that need to be run in order to be approved and make the list as well as the expenses of medication and travel post transplant.
Updates (3)
December 17, 2020
12/17/2020 = Well as most of you already know it has happened!!!!!!!!!! On 12/14 we got the call that there was a set of lungs available. Both new lungs were transplanted by 11:50 that night. Surgery lasted roughly 6.5 hours and was done off bypass meaning his heart was doing all the work the whole time! He came through surgery very well and so far everything has been good. He is off the ventilator and breathing on his own as of 3:45 pm on 12/16. He is still in the ICU for now and will remain so probably for the weekend. With all things Covid everything is up in there air about how this is going to progress so who knows how long we will be here or when we will get to go home. Richard and I deeply appreciate everyone's support during this time. We can't thank you all enough.
October 25, 2020
Went on this list officially as of 5:40 pm on 10/20/20 and got a call at 11:15am on 10/22/20 that they had a set of lungs. Turned out to be a dry run and surgery was called off at 1:30 in the morning on 10/23/20. Made it all the way down to the surgery preop area and had 3 out of the 4 IV lines already in when they called it. While it was obviously disappointing it is part of the process and we understand that completely. Our condolences and thanks to the donor family for their loss and for the amazing gift of life that they were willing to share with many other families. While we may not have been able to use the lungs other families received this amazing gift and on the the road to recovery themselves. Our time will come and until then we wait and we stay strong.
Photo Galleries (2)
Guestbook
May 27, 2021
Proud of you and the strength it took to make this journey.
David & Traci Levasseur
May 19, 2021
Stay strong!
Tiffany Strong
December 17, 2020
Always here to help in any way possible!!
Brian Derrivan
