Phil Kumbusky’s Liver & Lung Transplant Expenses

To know Phil Kumbusky is to know a great friend. To me and my siblings, it’s having the best dad. To our mother, Rhonda Kumbusky, it’s having a loving husband, best friend, and soulmate. I’ve created this fundraiser to ask our friends and family to donate, share, or even just send positive and healing thoughts his way while he awaits both a lung and liver transplant.

Phil was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1) in 2014. Alpha-1 is a genetic disease that affects the lungs and/or the liver. In Phil’s case, Alpha-1 has progressed rapidly in both organs leading to a decline in his overall health and quality of life. His original diagnosis of COPD led to the discovery of this genetic disease but had been managed for years through weekly infusions administered by a home nurse. While Alpha-1 is not curable, it can in some cases be easily managed with such treatments; but unfortunately, Phil’s case worsened two years ago and the disease ultimately began to affect his liver as well.

Over the last two years, our parents have spent countless days in the hospital, undergone procedures to calm his symptoms, have sat through sometimes hours-long doctors appointments in both Columbus and Cleveland, and dad spends many days at home just feeling unwell and unable to be his naturally upbeat and active self. Our mom has had to take a big step back from her work to be his full-time caregiver and health advocate; an overwhelming job in and of itself. She has taken on so much in these times and has shown us exactly what it means to love and support your family with a fierceness that is most admirable.

Phil needs both a lung and a liver transplant. The procedure will take place at the Cleveland Clinic and is undeniably costly. A lung transplant alone requires $24,000 in the bank, and that’s not including travel and living arrangements for roughly three months during the recovery period. The obvious severity of this surgery is a lot for one family to handle, but the added financial stress has become overwhelming when all we want is for our dad to get better. This is where we ask for your help. Please consider donating and/or sharing his story.

Our dad is the best man we know. He and our mom deserve to live a happy and healthy life together. Casey, Elly, and I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to read this and we thank you for any positive and healing thoughts you can send this way.

With love,

The Kumbuskys