Lungs for Mickey
Donation protected
Hello, friends. My name is Mike Sposato, but you may also know me as “Mickey”. I’m raising money to help pay medical expenses involved with a double lung transplant. Complicating matters is the fact that I have severe end-stage COPD / emphysema and can’t really work outside my home, since I’m on oxygen 24/7. I’m no longer able to work, and my money is running out. My health insurance has gone up by more than 50% in 2017, while paying for less, and requiring a larger deductible. I’ve already sold my house to pay for my medical treatment, but that money is almost gone. I’m selling my other possessions, but it’s not enough money, nor is it fast enough.
I’m not going to be able to pay for my insurance, medicines, and the rental on the oxygen machine that I need to breathe for very long in 2017 before all my funds are exhausted.
I’ve been unable to get signed up for any disability income from Social Security. I’ve been denied every time I've tried, even with a lawyer involved. I have no income at this time. I had some money put aside from when I was working, and, along with the sale of my house, it has kept me going for about 7 years. But it’s almost gone.
I’m trying desperately to find sources of income, but my condition make it very difficult.
My troubles began in 1998, when I noticed I was having some trouble breathing. I didn’t seek medical help at the time, because I didn’t want to create a record of a pre-existing condition before trying to get health insurance. So I lived with it, and worked around it as best I could. I did okay, not great, but okay for 12 years.
By January of 2010, I was in serious trouble. I couldn’t walk from one end of the house to the other without gasping and having to rest. One morning it was particularly bad, and I felt I had no choice but to seek medical attention. I made a few phone calls, and found a doctor who could see me. He treated my immediate problem, and after a few tests, he told me I had only 15% of my lung capacity left.
He diagnosed me with end-stage emphysema, a progressive, degenerative disease. There is no way to stop its progression. All that can be done is slow it’s progress, treat the symptoms, and hopefully, transplant my lungs.
The costs involved in a lung transplant are significant. The transplant itself can be more than $800,000. The post-transplant medications are estimated to cost over $10,000 per month. While most of these costs should be covered by my medical insurance, I will still incur thousands of dollars in deductibles and coinsurance. There will be additional costs of lodging and meals since my home is 3 hours away from the hospital where the surgery would be performed.
If I can get the transplant and return to the work force, I should be okay. But until that time, I’m really stuck. Any help would be most appreciated.
I’m not going to be able to pay for my insurance, medicines, and the rental on the oxygen machine that I need to breathe for very long in 2017 before all my funds are exhausted.
I’ve been unable to get signed up for any disability income from Social Security. I’ve been denied every time I've tried, even with a lawyer involved. I have no income at this time. I had some money put aside from when I was working, and, along with the sale of my house, it has kept me going for about 7 years. But it’s almost gone.
I’m trying desperately to find sources of income, but my condition make it very difficult.
My troubles began in 1998, when I noticed I was having some trouble breathing. I didn’t seek medical help at the time, because I didn’t want to create a record of a pre-existing condition before trying to get health insurance. So I lived with it, and worked around it as best I could. I did okay, not great, but okay for 12 years.
By January of 2010, I was in serious trouble. I couldn’t walk from one end of the house to the other without gasping and having to rest. One morning it was particularly bad, and I felt I had no choice but to seek medical attention. I made a few phone calls, and found a doctor who could see me. He treated my immediate problem, and after a few tests, he told me I had only 15% of my lung capacity left.
He diagnosed me with end-stage emphysema, a progressive, degenerative disease. There is no way to stop its progression. All that can be done is slow it’s progress, treat the symptoms, and hopefully, transplant my lungs.
The costs involved in a lung transplant are significant. The transplant itself can be more than $800,000. The post-transplant medications are estimated to cost over $10,000 per month. While most of these costs should be covered by my medical insurance, I will still incur thousands of dollars in deductibles and coinsurance. There will be additional costs of lodging and meals since my home is 3 hours away from the hospital where the surgery would be performed.
If I can get the transplant and return to the work force, I should be okay. But until that time, I’m really stuck. Any help would be most appreciated.
Organizer
Mickey Asp
Organizer
Georgetown, TX