Efrain Sotomayor

Efrain Sotomayor is only 56 years-old, and he desperately needs a heart transplant. March, 2014 while driving on the Interstate, Efrain stopped to help a woman and her child in a broken down car. Her car was out of gas, so Efrain pushed the car all the way to the next exit and down the ramp into a gas station. As a result, when he returned to his own car, he couldn’t catch his breath, and began coughing and gasping for air. With heavy chest pain, Efrain went to the ER and was diagnosed with a massive heart attack, and had lost significant heart function. The damage to his heart is irreversible, and Efrain now needs a lifesaving heart transplant, or his time will soon run out.

Efrain has been through extensive medical testing and is now an active candidate for a heart transplant at Tampa General Hospital, in Tampa, Florida. His wife, Laura and three children stand by his side and are ready to support him through his upcoming surgery. More than ever, Efrain wishes to return to work as an auto mechanic, and volunteer as a Deacon of his Church. He has been unable to work since his accident.

Transplants are lifesaving, but the out-of-pocket medical expenses for this type of surgery are monumental. Efrain pays for his own health insurance premium, and is only covered for 6 months after the transplant. Co-pays and deductibles, transportation and lodging fees, doctor visits, and post-transplant medications that Efrain will need for the rest of his life are expected to cost $2000/month.

To help with this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Efrain’s honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law, are held by Help Hope Live in the Southeast Heart Transplant Fund, and are administered by Help Hope Live for transplant-related expenses only. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your generosity, thoughts and prayers. Any donation, no matter how big or how small, is one step closer to Efrain’s heart transplant.

Gratefully,

Pastor Ken Ackerman, Efrain’s Pastor and Friend