Breathing is something most of us take for granted. I did. But when your lungs do not provide the air you need, your body becomes paralyzed and you can’t move. I have been slowly loosing lung capacity since I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2005. It is very difficult to attempt simple activities even with the use of oxygen. After breathing tests, x-rays and a cat scan of my lungs, the results showed that the disease has progressed and a lung transplant is necessary.

Organ transplantation is life-saving but very expensive. Even with insurance, I will have many uninsured transplant-related expenses such as: co-pays and deductibles, doctors’ visits, travel and temporary relocation housing at Mason House to be near the transplant center and the costly immunosuppressant medications that I will need to take for the rest of my life. As a result, the McKelvey Lung Transplant Center at Emory has recommended fundraising to help ease the financial burden for these uninsured expenses.