Leonida Pena

Leonida Peña, our young 58-year-old mother and her grandchildren’s “Tita”, has just received a double lung transplant. The financial expenses for our family have started and are quickly adding up. We are asking for your help.

She has never smoked a day in her life and has just received her desperately needed transplant to live. Her transplant was performed by the renowned University of Florida Shands Transplant Center in Gainesville, FL

Lee, as her friend’s know her, has been fighting COPD and numerous other lung ailments for over 30 years and recently diagnosed with Bronchiolitis Obliterans, a severe inflammation of the lungs. She has undergone multiple surgeries, medication therapies, and experienced other health complications due to the extreme lack of oxygen.

A former nurse, Lee has been unable to work since 2004 due to her health. Lee dreams of “one day having a life without being connected to a car or building for oxygen.” She continues to fight for the ability to travel to see her grandchildren, her family, and to celebrate holidays and milestones for years to come. Lee’s passion for her family and the need to find the best outcome has finally gotten her on the transplant list.

Lee does have health insurance to cover the primary procedures she will receive, but many of the post-surgical expenses are NOT covered. Our family works hard and provides for her home in Kissimmee, FL, but we cannot afford to cover these additional monthly costs and are in desperate need of assistance. These costs include: post-surgical housing, transportation, medications, and living expenses that are required during this time living over 2.5 hours away from home. We are anticipating monthly expenses around $7,500 a month for 3-4 months while she will be in Gainesville, FL for all her medical needs after this amazing procedure.

We are asking friends and family to join us in our fundraising efforts for Help Hope Live to help with the critical expenses she will now face post-surgery. Please help us support our Mom and take the financial weight off our family so she can focus all her energy on healing.

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

Leonida 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!