Tonya Williams

TONYA (Pennywell) WILLIAMS

Breathing is something most of us take for granted. I know I did. But when your lungs do not provide the air you need, your body becomes paralyzed and you’re not able to go about your daily functions, you become so grateful for the small things in life. I’ve been slowly losing lung capacity for the last seven years when I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis with underlying connective tissue diseases. After breathing tests, x-rays, and a CAT scan of my lungs, the results showed that the disease had progressed and a double lung transplant was going to be necessary.

This brings me to the purpose of my letter. Organ transplantation is lifesaving, but expensive. My insurance will only cover 80% of my surgery and I will be faced with many uninsured transplant-related expenses such as: co-pays and deductibles, doctor visits, travel, and temporary relocation to the transplant center for at least three months. I will also have the costly need for immunosuppressant medications that I will need to take for the rest of my life. This presents a financial challenge that I cannot meet alone, and as a result, the University of Washington transplant team has recommended fundraising to help ease this financial burden.

A fundraising campaign in my honor has been established with HelpHOPELive. HelpHOPELive is a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. If you wish to make a donation:

Make checks payable to:
HelpHOPELive

Note in memo section:
In Honor of “Tonya Williams”

Send to:
HelpHOPELive
Two Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087

For credit card donations, select the DONATE NOW button or call 800.642.8399.

Your financial gifts as well as your prayers will be greatly appreciated, and will help us through this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Tonya Williams & Family
[email protected]

Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. This campaign is administered by the HelpHOPELive, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing fundraising assistance to transplant and catastrophic injury patients. Information: 800-642-8399.