Many of you know my wife, Sandra Pupatelli, but you may not know that she has been suffering with chronic bronchitis for many years. Sandra’s last several visits to the pulmonary specialist revealed that her lungs are functioning at less than 35 percent capacity. She was told she has significant scar tissue and damage in both lungs. This damage is now quite visible according to her recent test results and she is now starting to show her inability to accomplish certain tasks. She now resorts to using oxygen 24/7. Sandra has been undergoing an extensive medical evaluation work-up for a double lung transplant that was initially to happen at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, she has since been transferred to Pittsburgh Medical Center and is currently under their care and evaluation review. At this point, this is Sandra’s only chance for survival.
Sandra is a very special wife, mother and person. We were companions for many, many years prior to our marriage of eight years ago. We have a beautiful blended family, including my daughter Gina and her husband Rick; my daughter Amie, her husband Jamie and their three children, Jacob, Justin and Jessica; my son Patrick, his wife Jill and their twins, Madison and Mason. Sandra has wonderful children as well: Robert and his partner Amanda, and their little Lucas, her first grandchild. We also have a beautiful daughter, Brittney that lives with us (and her dog Sammie). Our family provides a wonderful support system for Sandra, but we are facing other challenges we cannot meet without your help.
Sandra had worked part-time in the Home Department for JC Penney’s at Greece Ridge Mall for five years. She went to college for, and became a Paralegal, but is not actively practicing in that field. Prior to becoming ill, Sandra loved to golf with our family, garden, play around with photography and take long walks. Her dream is to be able to do all of these things again, without having to struggle to catch her breath.
Even though we have insurance, the cost of a lung transplant is staggering! There will be many out-of-pocket costs, such as: hospital and specialist co-pays, deductibles for tests, diagnostic evaluations, and many, many pre and post-transplant travel trips to the clinic for evaluation and a 6 week relocation in Pittsburgh at the time of transplant. The anti-rejection medications she will have to take for the rest of her life are also extremely costly and will be one of her biggest expenses following transplant.
In order to ease this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Sandra’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for 30 years. All donations are tax deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the New York Lung Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider making a tax deductible gift donation:Sandra and our entire family are so very thankful and appreciative for your help in our time of need. Please consider making a donation and attending one of the many special fundraiser events we plan to have in her honor periodically.
Sincerely,
Daniel Francis Taylor
585-352-4232
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