Dear Friends,
I am on the Heart Transplant List through the Cleveland Clinic. Intitally I was told the average wait for a heart transplant was anywhere from 3 months to 13months. Yet now, several years later, I am still patiently waiting.
When I first got on the heart transplant list I was nervous and scared; afraid of not surviving the surgery and if I did survive I was worried the new heart would not work. Now I am at peace with myself and am hoping for the gift of life. I am happy for those people who have recieved their new hearts and believe that God has blessed them and soon will bless me.
I am cared for by excellent staff of the Pediatric Tranplant Services at the Cleveland Clinic. Yes I did say “Pediatric” and it does seem odd that my care is managed by a baby doctor. I was born with a defect to my heart which is worsening as I am getting older. Dr. Gerard Boyle is my Pediatric Cardiologist and is the best of men. He is brilliant, friendly, and comedic yet can be strict when he needs to like when I drink too many fluids. I truly believe his medical knowledge has kept me alive. Dr. Boyle gave me the nickname “Sparky”. I occassionally have to go the the hospital to have my heart shocked back into a normal heart rhythm. At first I was going the hospital several times a month and that’s why Dr. Boyle dubbed me, “Sparky”. My nurse Colleen is caring, kind, funny, and easy to talk to. She helps me with my medications and coordinates my admissions to the hospital. Mary is my social worker and works with my insurance company. She is comforting to talk to and helps me keep my mind clear of negativity. She motivates me to be positive.
I am hoping to get my new heart soon. With a new heart I can do some things I am currently unable to do like: ride a bike, walk long distances, play basketball with my son, and bending over to tie my shoes. Taking a shower tires me and walking from my front door to the car makes me short of breath. I do light house duties yet need to take frequent breaks. Eating and talking even makes me short of breath! I feel like my day is too short because I need to take several naps throughout the day. I would like to go to work again and help my wife support the family. Our medical bills are high and I feel like I am failing my family.
For those of you who have read about me I ask that you consider donating money to my transplant fund to help defer the cost of doctor bills, medications, and hospital fees. The average cost transplant fees the first year are greater than $600,000 and I have been told that after my transplant, my monthly medication fees can be as high as $5,000. Althogh my insurance company pays the bulk of this, I have my co-pays to account for.
Thank you for your compassion and generosity. Gratefully, Greg Anderson

Greg has chosen to fundraiser with HelpHOPELive (HelpHOPELive) in part because HelpHOPELive provides both tax-deductibility and fiscal accountability to his contributors. Contributors can be sure that funds contributed will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses. To make a contribution to Greg’s fundraising campaign: