Help Carmine in her recovery with a little help from her friends.

I have been a Registered Nurse for 16 years caring for patients and now I find myself on the other side of the fence having to resign from my position/duties due to my lung disease.

In 2019 I was diagnosed with Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis/Fibrosis. It is a lung disease which is a systemic reaction to something that causes inflammation. Unfortunately, we don’t know what that something is despite numerous tests and medications. With inflammation, there is permanent lung scarring or fibrosis which worsens and becomes difficult to treat. It was stable for quite a while but now it has gotten to the point where I am now on oxygen 24/7 and need a double lung transplant.

This disease has changed my life with many un-expected life challenges: A 50-foot tubing attached to an oxygen concentrator in my home 24/7. Ensuring I have enough oxygen to make the car ride just to do daily errands. Advanced ordering of tanks that I have to make 2 weeks ahead of time if I want to go visit family or friends. Daily activities are not as easy as they used to be and causes much anxiety. Simple things like bringing in groceries I have to depend on my spouse to carry them in. I cannot do anything “spur of the moment” anymore.

On the bright side of it, I have named my oxygen tank “Wilson!” My Mother calls him “Oscar.” And I have a fancy oxygen tank cover thanks to my sister. Who knew they sold such a thing?

My Pulmonologist is at the University of Pennsylvania and referred me to the lung transplant team there. The cost of a double lung transplant is immense, even with insurance which I am lucky and blessed to have, not everything is covered.

The surgery requires many pre-testing and post testing visits on top of the mandatory 6 month long stay near UPenn post op.

I am originally from New Jersey and now live in Delaware. I love to dance and used to country line dance. Travel is one of my favorite things to do. Last year I went to Italy and met my Sicilian family for the first time! A visit that warmed my heart! All of my family warms my heart! I greatly enjoy cooking, as well as experiencing new restaurants, I enjoy going to the beach or lake, just being by the water rejuvenates me, calms the soul. I love music! I used to go to concerts. I find that music is healing therapy and it revives me. I lived in Hawaii for 10 years. I went for a vacation and came back 10 years later! A place that is also very near and dear to my heart.

My progressed disease has made it difficult and/or impossible to do these things. I hope that after my surgery I will be able to do all these things and more!

Just for medications, the cost could be more than $3000 a month. Your donations will help pay for a wide range of expenses such as:

• Transplant Lodging House
• Lifelong Medications
• Co-pay and deductible costs
• Travel
• Medical equipment
• Food
• Post op testing
To name a few

All donations are tax deductible and will surely help alleviate some of the stress and financial burden this will have after surgery and allow me to focus on my recovery.

I have chosen Help Hope Live in part because it assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and is tax deductible 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.

Please feel free to forward this to and Friends and Family that may want to participate. If you are able to help with fundraising, please contact me at [email protected], my spouse at [email protected] or my sister at [email protected].

I would also appreciate your prayers. I look forward to the uplifting spirits and words of wisdom I know I will get. There is a lot to be said about the power of prayer.

Thank you for your support!

Carmine Gerrizzo