Donnie Whitfield

Dear Friends, Family and Community,

Our father, Donnie Whitfield, has been suffering from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis since 2008. His condition worsened quickly in September 2014 and he was placed on the waiting list for a life-saving double lung transplant. His doctors at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have told us that this is his only hope for survival.

Dad is a loving husband, father, grandfather and good friend to many. He is a retired MSG with 28 years of service with the Army and Tennessee National Guards. He served in Vietnam and Iraq. Dad grew up in Fayetteville, Tennessee. He was a resident of Shelbyville/Tullahoma for 24 years. Currently he resides in Winchester, Tennessee. The disease forced him to retire from Arnold Engineering Development Center after 25 years as a Machinist Journeyman (Mechanic). Also, our mother Betty is unable to work at this time due to being his full time caregiver while waiting for the lung transplant.

A Lung Transplant is life-saving but it is also very expensive. Even with insurance there are many expenses that must be paid out of pocket. Some of these are co-pays, deductibles, travel to and from the transplant center and relocation for approximately six months at the time of transplant. In addition, Dad will be on a life-time of expensive anti-rejection medications.

A fundraising campaign in Dad’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 South-Atlantic Lung Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider making an end of year tax-deductible contribution.

On behalf of Dad, Mom and our family, we thank you for your kindness, generosity, support and prayers.

Misty and Renee
931-808-7035
[email protected]