“He’ll rip your lungs out Jim “   –  Warren Zevon 

When I look back, I can no longer see the place where we started from. It’s obscured by highs, lows, tears, and faded memory. I know it’s been a long walk though. We feel it in our bones. I can’t see the end either. God hasn’t revealed it yet and He ain’t sharing it with me……
A few months ago, Bob received the call for his transplant. He finished the first mile of his marathon. It was hard. Most times grueling. But he got there. I am happy to say that the surgery was a success. Well, as far as the replacement goes. But hey, mile marker 1.5! He’s going in the right direction.
That brings us to post-op. Let me tell you my friend, this is where the fatigue sets in. This recovery is usually a year long. It’s been a few months and feels like it has been ten times longer than that first mile. The docs are doing a good job. They definitely have come through for Bob. But, I like to talk to my brother. Advice, Philly sports talk, kids, job…you know. But I can’t. It seems like his body is fighting against him. Traechs, feeding tubes, ventilators, meds, fatigue, anxiety and fear too. What does the guy gotta do to catch a break? He can only whisper at most. Usually it’s a thumbs up or down. I miss talking to him.
That is my perspective. I can not imagine lying in that bed. He has the most courage I have seen in a person. I look at this page and see the donations many gracious people have made. We are so very humbled, and feel so blessed that the donations have come in. They have been a life saver for Bob and his wife.
This journey is still going. We are still going. If you can find it in your heart, we ask that you help in some way. Not all blessings are money. It helps, but so does prayer. The Lord will hear the cries of many voices. He will answer those cries, and will anoint them with the blessings of Heaven. ” For I say unto you, the Greatest Commandment is this: Love one another as I have loved you” Thanks for all you do. You have become part of our journey.

The Haines family.

     And that is exactly what happened to Bob Haines.  Covid, Coronavirus, The Pandemic, call it whatever you want, Bob needs new lungs.  At 56 years old, Bob was in great shape. Trim, non-smoker, energetic…..a regular guy, hard working family man. Bob was in the restaurant supply business and took all the precautions he was supposed to, we all did. Some of us were lucky, I guess. Bob’s luck ended when caught the virus.
     It’s tough to imagine. You are living your best life, day to day things are going along pretty well and you feel great. Then you wake up one morning and you don’t feel good. You’re not thinking Covid because you were cautious, you followed the rules. But…. it is. So off to the doctor. You get your treatment and told “ you will be fine “. Nothing seems to help. You think you actually feel worse. The doc says to come back. You get another round of treatment. Surely that’s the ticket. Again, you don’t feel better. It IS getting worse. You go to the ER, to be told illness has changed. Now you have Covid induced double pneumonia.  You get
admitted to treat the pneumonia.  You start to feel a little better, but you can’t breathe right. X-ray is not really showing anything, antibiotics are not helping and you can’t get out of bed without losing your breath. It gets so bad that you actually start to pass out. So for 5 weeks you get medicine to treat your pneumonia, then you get cleared to go home.  A week later, it’s the worst it’s been, you feel like you are dying, back to the hospital. Doctors, nurses, Specialists….poked, pricked, pressed on.
Finally…finally; someone says let’s get a biopsy. And there it is…..pulmonary interstitial lung disease your lungs are at 30% capacity.  The only possible treatment is a double lung transplant or you are going to die.
    That’s where Bob is and he needs us. Bob’s story could happen to any of us. This is a guy who the world loves. His customers ask for Bob because they know they will be getting taken care of.  His co-workers always went to Bob for help or advice on how to be better on the job. Of course he helped them, he showed them to stop seeing the people as “sales targets”.  Told them to “treat them like they’re your family. That’s what they will remember. ”, because after all Family is what matters the most to Bob. He’s the eldest son, a big brother, a husband , a father and a grandfather. This is his circle. We have pulled together and we are doing everything we can for Bob. However it’s not enough. We are limited by our own obligations. 
   Here’s a man who makes the world better just by being himself. A man the world needs more of and Bob needs your help now. This opportunity for a double lung transplant is very expensive. There are so many costs associated with the whole process that no one thinks of. Kind of like buying your first house. You’ve done your homework and you know you
can make the mortgage, but you never think about the curtain rods. Even at $20 each, it adds up. It’s the same with this operation, everyone asks doesn’t insurance cover it? Insurance doesn’t cover associated costs. If Bob cannot find a way to help offset the costs, the hospital will not perform the surgery and Bob will die. “Curtain rods”…… it’s amazing how we never think of them. Just like parking, tolls, co-pays. medication and rehab. Medication that’s needed for the rest of Bob’s life.  
   Please, take a minute and consider helping Bob. This is a great guy who got his life taken out from under him. Any amount helps. Please….Bob needs your help. If you can’t help, please, please, please; say a prayer, light a candle, smile at a stranger. Everything helps! Thank
you for taking time to read Bob’s story and God bless you and your family.

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

Robert 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!