Rick Mahrt

Dear Family and Friends,

As most of you know, I was diagnosed with Alpha-1 around six years ago. At the time, Barbara and I were living in the mountains of the American West. I went into immediate denial. The more I learned about this condition the deeper into denial I went! That didn’t last. At the time I was only mildly out of breath. I could still hike the mountain paths, beat others ‘to the puck’ in hockey, and ‘to the ball’ in soccer, but once I got there I was spent. Even then, I would still find something else to blame it on. Finally, I had to face the truth…I was becoming disabled.

Now, I tire easily and get winded performing the most mundane of tasks. My descent into despair is halted by my loving partner of 25 years, by the support from my Alpha-1 support group, the love of my family and friends and by a conviction that there is some divine plan at work. I don’t understand it but am uplifted by it.

This brings me to the purpose of my letter. We, Barbara and I, are about to embark on the largest undertaking of our lives: a double lung transplant. This will be taking place at the Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland Ohio. We have every confidence that this is the wisest choice of paths, the best locale for the procedure, and provides me with the best chance for a positive outcome. But we need your support in this. Transplantation is lifesaving but very expensive. There may be an emergency airplane trip involved, there will be traveling back and forth from Cincinnati, relocation costs while staying near the hospital, and living expenses incurred as we “live” in Cleveland for three or four months during recovery. I will be off work for 12 months, Barbara for 6 months.

To help ease this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in my honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Great Lakes Lung Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. If you are able and would like to support us in this journey, please:Your financial gifts will be greatly appreciated and will help us make it through this difficult time.

Thank you,

Barbara and Rick
513-312-0632
[email protected]