L. Christopher Bird

It started with a persistent cough in 2017 that I just could not shake.

Trips to the ER would result in a diagnosis of bronchitis, a prescription of antibiotics, and an inhaler yet the cough would persist. After months, a chest X-ray was ordered which revealed scarring of the lungs and led to a series of events that led to a referral to a pulmonologist, my first pulmonary function test of many, and a CT scan. It revealed that I had pulmonary fibrosis, growths in my lungs that reduce both the capacity to breathe and the ability to extract oxygen from the air. After a referral to Stanford Medical Center, we soon learned that I suffer from a rare autoimmune illness called Dermatomyositis, which in a small number of cases has lung involvement. It also affects the muscles and the skin, causing me to be weak, fatigued, and have chronic pain, along with the occasional rash.

On my first visit to see my Stanford Pulmonologist, Dr. Raj in 2018, he brought up the possibility of a lung transplant, and it looks like that time has finally come. In May of 2021, I was evaluated over four days at Stanford Hospital being subjected to every test I have ever heard of, and quite a few that I had not. It was determined at that time that we were a little early for transplant and I would be monitored closely to determine when I would be in the transplant window where I am sick enough to need the transplant, but well enough to survive the surgery… and the wait.

In that time I have been working hard to prepare for when I would be in the transplant window. Mainly by losing weight to be at a better BMI for transplant surgery. In May of 2021, I was right at the upper limit of acceptable BMI and since then by changing habits I have lost around 20 pounds to be at a more ideal weight. I also have had to taper off the opiate medication used to manage my chronic pain from my Dermatomyositis, which I have been doing with the help of Dr. Salmasi at the Stanford Pain Clinic as part of the Empower Pain Study.

Transplant is coming. I need your help in being able to meet my needs post-transplant. I will need to relocate temporarily near Stanford Hospital after surgery with a full-time caregiver who will be relocating from the East Coast to care for me. There may be costs for medications I will need to live post-transplant, as well as other medical costs, as well as costs for food & transportation, and other unforeseen expenses. Our fundraising goal is $10,000 USD

Thank you for being on this journey with me. We have made it this far, and with your help, we may make it further still.

Family and friends of L. Christopher Bird are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation.

L. Christopher has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!