Natalie Riggs

PLEASE HELP!

My name is Natalie Riggs, just 49 years old (soon to hit the big 5-0 in December). I was a practicing nurse for over 25 years before I had to retire for medical reasons. In 2008, I was diagnosed with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. That is when I learned I would need a lifesaving double lung transplant. On November 19, 2012 I received that gift of life. I am now 2 years post-double lung transplant! I have enjoyed a wonderful life and now in my second life I work very hard to stay healthy. My lungs are doing great though immunosuppressant medications and natural causes have put me in stage 4 (of 5 stages) kidney failure. Fortunately, I have yet to start dialysis but I imagine that will happen in time, ultimately leading to a kidney transplant.

Transplants are life-saving but financially draining. Even with insurance, I am facing very high out-of-pocket expenses including relocation to be closer to UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center); post-transplant medications are extremely expensive each month, co-pays, lab fees and more. I need your help.

To help with the financial burden of Natalie’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in my honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, 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, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Great Lakes Kidney Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. Please consider a contribution.

For credit card contributions, please click the yellow Donate Now button.

Thank you for your prayers, support and generosity. Keep an eye on my campaign page at www.helphopelive.org because we will be planning some fundraising events soon and posting updates regularly.

Gratefully,

Natalie D. Riggs
216-645-4872