As some of you may know, in 2005 my sister Charmaine was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, a disease that caused irreversible damage to her lungs. Charmaine is the loving mother of four, all of whom have a bright future and desperately want their mom to be healthy. The doctors at the Mayo Clinic informed Charmaine that at this point, her only chance for survival is a life-saving lung transplant.
Before Charmaine became ill, like many of us, I took the gift of breathing for granted. Today, as I look at my sister, I realize the importance of every breath she takes. Each breath provides the life-giving air for her lungs and body to function normally. As she continues to lose lung capacity, everyday tasks become almost insurmountable. Now more than ever, Charmaine needs the help of her family, friends and community in order to survive. She and her children, Natasha, Patricia, Nathaniel and Destinee, are up against a challenge the family cannot face alone.
Charmaine loves to volunteer and has worked hard her entire life. Since becoming sick, every task takes so much energy out of her. Even with constant oxygen supplies, it is difficult for Charmaine to continue her daily routine and care for her youngest daughter. After years of being hospitalized, a lung transplant is Charmaine’s only chance to return to a normal life again.
This brings me to the purpose of my letter. Organ transplantation is a life saving procedure, but very expensive. Even with insurance, there will be several out-of-pocket expenses, including: doctor visits, co-pays and deductibles, travel and relocation after surgery, and the costly immunosuppressant medications she will have to take for the rest of her life. As a result, the transplant team at the Mayo Clinic recommended fundraising for these expenses.
To ease this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Charmaine’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive for her uninsured expenses. HelpHOPELive is a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for more than 28 years. All contributions are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation.Your financial gifts as well as your prayers are greatly appreciated, and will help us through this difficult time.
Sincerely,

Sharon Selby
a_rojas211@yahoo.com