Jose D’Abruzzo is 63 years old with significant PMHx of chronic lung disease due to sarcoidosis, COPD, and severe pulmonary hypertension. In 2003 he developed weight loss and dyspnea (labored breathing). After visits with several doctors and a lung biopsy, Jose learned he had sarcoidosis. Since then, he has been learning to work around his health difficulties while working full-time in textile mills (usually 12-hour night shifts, six days a week). This long-term exposure damaged his lungs even more due to exposure to cotton and other organic dusts. This led to COPD and pulmonary hypertension. Also, he got COVID-19 in January 2021, which led to a pulmonary embolism. Since then, he has had worsening dyspnea.

Jose’s pulmonologist referred him to the University of Florida Health for a lung assessment. After all the pre-transplant tests, he was listed with the United Network for Organ Sharing for double-lung transplant on 11/09/23.
As a husband and father, Jose is heartbroken at the idea of going through lung transplant and not knowing if he will have to say goodbye to his three sons, his wife, family, and friends that he cares about. Right now, everything is hard. He is out of breath with the slightest exertion, and he is fearful of the lung transplant, but he knows he is in good hands at the University of Florida Health. He knows he will be able to breathe again without oxygen support and looks forward to doing things he loves again, like (going to the beach with his sons and wife and travel to visit family and friends.

Jose is fundraising for medical and relocation expenses. He lives three hours away from the hospital and must relocate for three months post-transplant. This means that Jose and his wife will have to rent an apartment near the hospital, which will cost $7500 (three months’ rent), plus the hospital bill that as of today, November 10, is almost $8000.
Please donate to Help Hope Live in Jose’s honor today and ask your friends and family to give too! If you have any questions, please contact his wife Ana at dabruzzoana@comcast.net. Thank you for your generous support!

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

Thank you for your support!