March 14, 2018
GO FUND ME
Hello Facebook family. Many of you are partially or fully aware of my health challenges. What is not known is the real impact on our finances.
December 4, 2015 I received a life saving liver after my liver failed. The failure also made my kidneys fail that has partially recovered and I no longer receive dialysis. Four hours into my surgical recover I had a bleed into the right side of my brain keeping me from being fully aware for two and one half months. Upon waking I required 6 months of rehabilitation therapy to maximize the use of my legs.
The surgery and recovery created a major drain on our financial resources that continue even today. Till now we have retain this information but now prompted to reach out to you my Facebook family for help. Any amount is a tremendous help.
To assure the integrity of donation please make checks payable to:
Help Hope Live
Note in the memo section:
In Honor of Dwight J. Crawford
Please send to:
Help Hope Live
Two Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087
To make a credit card contribution, call 800-642-8399 or select GIVE.
Thank each of you for your time reading our appeal, considerations and donations.
May 23, 2017
Hello, Help Hope Live community,
My update is long overdue and overwhelmingly positive. First, all credit goes to the Holy Trio Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then I must acknowledge my wife Lula and my family for their tireless support. Shortly I will unpack that but first, I must share.
In 1991, I received my diagnosis of chronic active Hepatitis C. The disease progressed year after year despite participation in numerous clinical trials and in research studies. I can truthfully and without reservation say that through my physician's involvement in research, I have personally made a significant contribution to the Harvoni breakthrough.
As my donors are acutely aware, on November 17, 2015, I became critically ill with End Stage Liver Disease (ESLD) with a huge amount of fluid (ascites) in my abdomen and acute renal failure. I was subsequently admitted to the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill Medical Center and at discharge was placed number one on the transplant list. Returning home, we (Lula my wife) were contacted in less than two weeks with the offer of a lifesaving liver. We will forever be extremely grateful to and acknowledged the significant loss of our donor family.
On December 4, 2015, the gifted organ was successfully transplanted to my body. Let's unpack, about 4 hours post operatively I experienced a massive brain hemorrhage that rendered me cognitively unaware for approximately 2-1/2 months. Becoming really aware, February 14, 2016 (first miracle) I found I was being hemodialyzed with no appetite and loss of taste for food. Being the nurse I am acquainted with dialysis and its implications and anorexia I prayerfully asked God to restore my kidneys and appetite. My kidney function is acceptable without any need for further intervention except close monitoring (second miracle). My appetite is now normal, little weight gain but normal (third miracle). After months of rehabilitation and numerous readmissions to UNC I am home to stay as of June 2016. I am now walking 1/2 - 3/4 miles each morning and busy myself around the house (inside and out) daily (fourth miracle).
My surgery and multiple re-admissions pushed my medical cost to greater than 1.5 million dollars, covered mainly by insurance but still with required co-pays and other cost. Thank God for Help Hope Live and their assistance with raising and receiving funds that was then made available to me at critical times and went a long way to address medical, travel and lodging needs.
Now unpacked, I need to express how grateful I am to first my donor family then my Surgeons and their health care teams, my wife who remained by my side every step of the way, my family for their support, my many, many prayer warriors, my many donors and then Help Hope Live for their assistance and support to so many families in crisis.
Thank You
July 21, 2016
Many of you have anticipated receiving information concerning the progression in my health. Some know and many others do not know that on December 3, 2015 Lula and I entered Memorial Hospital at Chapel Hill anticipating a life saving liver transplant. I was transplanted December 4, 2015 with complications that extended my stay to 88 days.Thank each of you for your prayers inquiries and support to my family. In Lieu of missing churches and individuals we simply want to thank everyone. In addition, a special thanks go out to the General & South Atlantic Conference of Seventh-day Adventist which we am an active members supporting many areas to include young people. In my treatment course Lula and I have witnessed many miracles and because of them our lives and those we contacted will never be the same. Always believe this one thing faith yield results, many times in our 3 months stint God has shown up and every time he showed up he has showed out.
I am happy to report that as of May 28, 2016 I have remained home without a readmission and as of the first week in June I am showing DAILY improvement. To God be the glory.
We are both so greatfull for those who assisted monatarily to make receiving this gift possible. If you are so impressed we ask that you continue your giving when possible. We love each of you and may God continue to richly Bless you.
Dwight J. & Lula T. Crawford
March 1, 2016
GOOD NEWS UPDATE: As you may already know, Dwight received the gift-of-life through a successful liver transplant surgery that took place on December 4th, 2015. Dwight continues to face setbacks, but is growing stronger each and every day. He still has a long road ahead of him before he is fully recovered. While he continues to grow stronger, Dwight's out-of-pocket transplant and related expenses continue to add up more than ever. He is asking for your kind consideration and donations to help him afford his post-transplant anti-rejection medications, and even his living expenses. Thank you ahead of time for your thoughtful generosity and concerns! Julie Holtsberg, Patient Services Coordinator for Dwight and his family
March 1, 2016
Many of you have anticipated receiving information concerning the progression in my health. Some know and many others do not know that on December 3, 2015 I entered Memorial Hospital at Chapel Hill to have a liver transplant. There were complications that extended my stay to 88 days.Thank each of you for your prayers inquiries and support to my family. In Lieu of missing churches I simply want to thank all Church families and their leaders. In addition a special thanks go out to the Greater South Atlantic Conference of Seventh-day Adventist which I am a member. In my treatment course Lula. and I have witnessed many miracles and because of them our lives will never be the same, will share when appropriate. Always believe that faith yield results. in 3 months many times God has shown up and every time he showed up he has showed out.
We love each of you and God Bless.
December 4, 2014
First We want to thank each person who has and will contribute to our fund raising campaign. On occasions We are asked by the transplant team concerning our fund raising success. They encourage us to continue the process knowing the cost other transplant recipients has incurred.
My health; I would love to say it has been uneventful and improving but that would be misleading. The truth is I have had pneumonia that took so much out of me. My MELD Score (Model For End Stage Live Disease) has increased from 8 to19 (range 1- 40 (the higher the score the sicker the patient)) usually transplants take place at a meld score of 30.
I am actively being worked up to be back on the active transplant list.
Recently I was invited to enter a clinical trial that is yielding a 93% hepatitis C cure rate. I was later denied the treatment because of my low albumin level.
Pray for us that whatever my lot I see each of you in heaven at my savior's side.
August 9, 2010
Car Wash
Today, August 8, 2010 was a hot but very beautiful day. It was the day of my first fund raiser, a car wash. The organizers were Ms. Elaine Young, Ms. Linda Sanders, Ms. Dasha Reed, Ms. LaJuan Crawford and Ms. Katherine Morrison. The event was well organized, yielding much needed funds, good fellowship and new acquaintances.
I want to give a special thank to these organizers and the support given by Advance Auto Parts located at 2005 Hendersonville, Road Asheville, NC (see photos) for use of their facilities and Domino’s Pizza located at 1850 A Hendersonville Road (see photos) who assisted with lunch for the volunteers.
During the event I met many well wishers to include a woman whose husband was a recipient of a heart transplant and a man whose uncle is currently on a liver transplant list. I am encouraged by the support, volunteerism and prayers. I am very proud to be an active part of this Western North Carolina Community. (Refer to web site for other photos and click on the photo to display the entire album.)
July 28, 2010
Update
I appreciate the contributions to my transplant fund, well wishes and those who have just taken an interest in my case. I am still challenged to keep up a daily routine but need the interaction, and socialization for my mental health.
I have taken an interest in reading other's appeals and certainly welcome your communication. Keep me in your prayers.
Maranatha
