Timothy Campbell

My name is Timothy Campbell, and I’ve worked hard my entire life. I never thought I’d reach a point where I would have to ask for help — but here I am, fighting for my life and praying for a lung transplant that will allow me to breathe again and get back to work. I was diagnosed with COPD and emphysema in June 2010, and over the years, it’s progressed to end-stage COPD and emphysema. I started working when I was just 10 years old, delivering newspapers, and I haven’t stopped since. My father was a tough military man who taught us to work hard, never quit, and never ask for help. I’ve lived by that my entire life. I worked in the Delaware prison system from April 15, 1984, until October 31, 2004, before leaving due to stress. After that, I started my own cable business, and in 2018, I began truck driving, which I truly loved. There was something peaceful about being out on the road l.. it gave me purpose and independence. In December 2024, doctors recommended placing Zephyr valves in my lungs to help me breathe better. Before the surgery, I wasn’t on oxygen — I was still driving my truck, working, and providing for my family. But immediately after the procedure, everything changed. I couldn’t breathe without oxygen and have needed it every day since. That was the day I had to stop working. It’s now been a year since I’ve been able to work, and I’ve done everything I can to support my family during this time. But with another six-month delay before I can be listed for a transplant, I’m out of money and options. It breaks my heart to ask for help, but I have no other choice. I know my dad — the man who taught me to stand on my own two feet — would understand that this is one of those times when it’s okay to reach out. In June 2025, I went to the hospital after not feeling well. They couldn’t find a vein to give me medication, so they ran a CT scan and sent me home, saying everything looked fine. Less than 18 hours later, my wife found me collapsed on the floor — blue and unresponsive. The ambulance couldn’t get a vein either. When I got to the hospital, the doctors didn’t think I would make it. I was put on a ventilator, fighting for my life. By the grace of God, I made it. A few days later, I was transferred to Duke University Hospital for a lung transplant evaluation. I was approved for transplant, but the cardiologist found a blocked artery, which had to be repaired first. Because of that, I must wait six months while on blood thinners before I can be placed on the transplant list.Since then, I’ve been mostly confined to my home. I’ve battled four cases of pneumonia, two rounds of COVID, and two bouts of sepsis. Every illness has taken more of my strength. I’m now in Stage 4C end-stage COPD and emphysema, and every breath is a struggle. Through all this, my faith has grown stronger. I’ve also reconnected with my daughter, we’ve always had love between us, even though she lived full-time in Florida while I was in Delaware. I was there for holidays and visits, but now that we live closer and talk often, our bond has become stronger than ever. I have three beautiful grandchildren, and my biggest hope is to live long enough to see them grow up — to attend their school events, birthdays, and milestones. This transplant isn’t just about new lungs…it’s about a second chance at life. I want to breathe again, work again, and return to doing what I love most: driving my truck and providing for my family. If you’re reading this, I humbly ask for your prayers and support. Every bit helps me take one step closer to breathing freely again and to living the life God still has planned for me.

Thank You, Timothy Campbell