Matthew E Fruits

Dear Family, Friends & Generous Donors,

Matt and I need your help.  His Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis has advanced and is now developing in his right lung.  Other than his lungs, he’s fairly healthy.  He has to have a double lung transplant and soon.  Otherwise, his other organs will start failing too.  The doctors say it needs to be done in the next year to year and a half.

Many of you may know our family from our children’s school years, showing llamas, 4-H and/or the pet stores in Crawfordsville, IN.  Matt and I met as teenagers while working together at Uncle Bill’s Pet Center in Greenwood, IN.  Our entire lives have revolved around our family and our animals.  Since Matt can no longer visit the farm, we have had to give up a lot of that lifestyle.  It has been extremely painful and emotional.  It hasn’t just been our way of life, the one we’ve always shared, but the animals have been our pets.  We have already sold several and have a few more to sell.  We can have our dogs and cats, but nothing else.  Nothing else!  Megan will keep the rest of the farm animals to breed, raise and sell.  She will continue to show llamas.  I will attend a few shows with her, but Matt will only be able to watch through the internet or FaceTime.  It will continue to be a difficult adjustment, but Matt’s life, health and well-being are more than worth it all.

The IU Health Methodist Transplant Team requires us to have at least $8,000 in savings for expenses during the transplant recovery and rehab time.  Realistically, it may have to be more. This will allow us to focus solely on Matt’s healing and well-being.  He will be in the hospital for at least 2-4 weeks and then at least another 4-6 weeks of 5 rehab days per week.  Since we are more than 40 miles from the IU Health Methodist Pulmonary Rehab facility, we must relocate to Indianapolis during that time.  We have to have enough to be able to pay all expenses, not covered by insurance, during our time away from home.  We are trying to save on our own, but it’s difficult to save that much in a somewhat limited amount of time.  We are trying to sell some of our llamas, but it may not be enough.

This is what your thoughtful donations will help cover:

• Hospital and doctors’ fees not covered by insurance, including deductibles and copays; telephone and television rentals during hospitalizations.

• Dental care and other uninsured health care needs impacting Matt’s transplant.

• Transplant-related medications and medication co-pays.

• Transportation: local travel (one-day round trip) and long-distance travel (overnight or longer) for Matt to access treatment or for a caregiver to visit our home.

• Relocation expenses to access treatment and rehab.

• Meals during medical travel or temporary relocation to access treatment and rehab.

• Reasonable maintenance costs for a vehicle to access treatment (i.e., oil changes).

• Emergency assistance for living expenses (i.e., mortgage, rent, utilities).

• Home health care for client; hiring and paying caregivers if necessary.

• Medically recommended rehabilitation, including exercise-based rehab.

• Medically necessary exercise equipment.

• Treatments that are FDA approved or currently under FDA initial review and recommended by a medical professional (with some exceptions).

• Disposable medical equipment and supplies for the client and medically needed over-the-counter drug store items.

• Medically necessary home repairs (such as mold abatement).

• One telephone for Matt so he won’t miss “The Call”.

• Fundraising expenses, within reason.

Matt and I have been beyond blessed by the amazing family, friends, and many acquaintances in our lives.  We thank you all for your love, support and unending prayers.  We could not go through all of this without you.

Thank you also to anyone we do not know personally or who has helped and chosen to remain anonymous.  We feel your kindness and we plan to pay it forward.

Many blessings to you all,

Matt & Erin