Douglas Gravagna

02/13/11: ‘Valley man goes months before getting word on transplant’

My name is Douglas Gravagna,and I am 44-years-old and living with my mom in Sun City, AZ (due to an existing health condition). In 2006 I was diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy. As my health began to deteriorate, I required more specialized medical care which led to a hospitalization for congestive heart failure. It was at that time that I was informed by my doctors that the only real chance for a healthy life would be to undergo a heart transplant. This led to extensive evaluations at the University Medical Center in Tucson. Fortunately, I was deemed to be a good candidate.

For most of my life, I was an independent contractor and later worked for five years as an engineer at the Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale — a job that provided me with private health insurance. When the economy shifted, I was one of the many who lost their jobs (due to cuts), and subsequently, I lost my health insurance coverage.

My current insurance provider is AHCCCS. At the time of the transplant evaluations, AHCCCS stated that there should be no problem in having this life-saving transplant covered by insurance as long as I was deemed to be a good candidate. Then in October 2010, I was notified by Mercy Care that my need for a transplant was denied, based upon the then recently enacted bill HB 2010. In 2011 there was a reversal of HB 2010 and I was once again eligible for a transplant.

My health continued to deteriorate. In 2010 alone, I had 13 hospital stays for congestive heart failure and arrhythmias. My injection fraction is less than 6% which in layman’s terms means my heart is that of a 95-year-old man. Not many people have the resources to meet the financial obligations associated with transplantation, such as: travel and temporary relocation to the transplant center and the costly immunosuppressant medications that I will need to take for the rest of my life. My plea for support from friends and the community is greatly needed to ensure a successful outcome for my future.

I am determined to help myself receive this much-needed heart transplant. Transplantation is expensive (approximately $650,000) — a fundraising campaign in my honor has been established with HelpHOPELive. HelpHOPELive is a nonprofit that has been working with the transplant community for 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only.

Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution today.The Gravagna family thanks you in advance for your support and donations.

Douglas Gravagna
602.882.3193