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

February 21, 2025

Our Dad has been added to transplant list as of 2/19/25. He is still admitted at his local hospital. Where we are currently waiting for him to be transferred out of State until he can have transplant.

February 15, 2025

Dad continues to be admitted and on high flow oxygen. Due to this he is still not stable enough to return home. They started him on a IVIG yesterday to provide antibodies to his body. Please continue to share and donate if you can. Thank you from all of us 🙏🏽

February 13, 2025

Help Javier Heal: Support His Lung Transplant

My name is Diana and I’m writing on behalf of my dad who was admitted to the Hospital less then a week ago. This is his third admission since mid November.

He already had his lung evaluation and we are now waiting for him to be listed for a lifesaving double-lung transplant.

This is a procedure that he can no longer live without. As his lungs are too damaged to breath on his own.

It would mean the world to us if you could donate or share his story with friends. Every little bit helps!

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Back in 2019, our dad - Javier Banda, a devoted father, husband, and now a grandfather of two - was rushed to the ER with chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing up blood.

During this admission we learned that his Rheumatoid Arthritis that he had been diagnosed with back in 2017 had progressed and had severely damaged his lungs. Biopsy resulted in a diagnosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis, a progressive lung disease that made breathing nearly impossible.

By the end of 2019, doctors warned us that his only chance at survival would be a double-lung transplant. He was seen at the hospital and approved by a Lung Transplant Comité to be placed on the lung transplant list.

However, over the next year, with careful management, treatments, and a strict diet, his lung function unexpectedly improved to a stage where his medical team felt a risky lung transplant may be avoided. He was then taken off of the list.

With that prognosis, my dad was able to return home, spend time with his family, and enjoy precious moments with me and the kids. Although he never regained full health, his resilience inspired everyone around him.

Where We Are Now

Unfortunately, earlier this week his oxygen saturation dropped to an incredibly low number. After his last admission it had been dropping to the 60s but would go back up. This time it dropped down to 46 and with the symptoms he was experiencing we all thought he was having a heart attack.

Since his admission we have learned that he has Pneumonia. On top of that his body was still recovering from having to make a trip for his lung evaluation. He had gone from using 2 liters of oxygen when walking around for more then a few minutes. To now needing 25 liters just to walk down the hall to the bathroom.

Doctors have told us that his condition is now critical, and he urgently needs a lung transplant.

The simple act of standing causes his heart rate to skyrocket and his blood oxygen levels to drop dangerously low. He is on constant oxygen support. This time, there are no alternatives—his only hope is a transplant.

The good news is that he has already been evaluated and approved for listing by the hospital comité and approved by his insurance. We are just waiting for him to be officially placed on the list. From there he would either wait at home for a call or be admitted to the hospital doing the transplant while he waits for lungs to become available.

The Road Ahead: Why We’re Humbly Asking For Your Help

The financial toll of this medical crisis has been staggering, and the road ahead is filled with challenges. A lung transplant is a monumental undertaking, and the costs involved are overwhelming despite his insurance. Here’s how the funds will be used:

• Ongoing Medical Expenses: Including ongoing medications and anti-rejection drugs

• Caregiver Support: Family caregiving pre-transplant and long-term care post-transplant

• Housing: Relocating to live within one hour of the transplant center for at least three months post-surgery

• Transportation: Air ambulance and emergency transport

• Unexpected Costs

How You Can Help Javier

Javier has always been a fighter, and he’s overcome so much to stay with us these past few years. But now, he needs our help to get through this next battle. We’re asking for your support—whether it’s through a donation, sharing this campaign, or sending prayers and words of encouragement.

Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us closer to saving Javier’s life, helping him heal, and giving him a future. Your kindness and generosity mean more to us than words can express.

Thank you for standing with us during this incredibly difficult time. We will keep you updated every step of the way as we work toward Javier’s transplant and recovery. Together, we can give him the gift of life.

With deepest gratitude,
Javier’s family, friend, and community!