My name is John Mullin and I am facing a life-threatening challenge. In 2011 I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a degenerative lung disease that gives patients an average 3-5 year life expectancy. There are no medical cures for this condition and only have a few drug therapies that may slow the disease progression. Hope to live is to receive a lung transplant.

I am married to Carole Mullin for 39+ years; together we raised four wonderful children, all grown with families of their own. Now with 10 grand-children to love and spoil, we always look forward to family times together. At 62 years of age, I look back on my life and clearly have five highlights that are memories above all. My wedding day with Carole is first; followed by “walking down the matrimony isle” with my daughters Lisa, Christy, and Sandy; and finally witnessing the birth of my son Daniel. These are vivid and clear along many other happy events. With a transplant, I will have the opportunity to make many more great memories with my family while being an advocate for others with IPF.

My IPF has progressed to the point where I recently was added to the transplant list at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. I fight for life each passing day as I wait for my blessing of donor lungs. This process is extremely tough. Even with insurance, there are many out-of-pocket expenses including travel and copays for pre-transplant doctor appointments, and numerous tests/procedures that need to be repeated periodically. Post-transplant, patients are required to complete rigorous rehabilitation therapy for many weeks along with life-long anti-rejection / immune suppressant medications that are very expensive. Given the high cost of the co pays, medications pre/post-transplant, and travel expenses for testing and follow-up, transplants are life-saving but financially draining.