2nd breath - Life after transplant

As some of you may know Ken received a double lung transplant in May of 2010 due to complications for Cystic Fibrosis (CF). While Ken is doing very well with his new lungs we have suffered some financial hardships through the last few years and especially over the last few months. We are asking for help in paying medical bills and prescription costs that are past due. We have tried to pay these expenses on our own but it is almost impossible as soon as we pay one bill we get another. We are not asking for a hand out we are asking for help in our time of financial downfall.


The cost of a transplant, including preliminary testing, the surgery itself and post-operative recovery costs vary across the country and depend on the hospital and organ type. These costs start to add up, even before your transplant. Therefore, patients commonly rely on several sources to help pay for their medical and non-medical costs of pre- and post-transplantation.

Medical costs include:

· insurance deductibles

· insurance co-pays

· pre-transplant evaluation and testing

· surgery

· fees for the recovery of the organ from the donor

· follow-up care and testing

· additional hospital stays for complications

· fees for surgeons, physicians, radiologist, anesthesiologist and recurrent lab testing

· anti-rejection and other drugs, which can easily exceed $2,500 per month

· rehabilitation

Non-medical costs include:

· food, lodging and long distance phone calls for you and your family

· transportation, to and from your transplant center, before and after your transplant

· lost wages if your employer does not pay for the time you or a family member spends away from work

· If your transplant center is not close to your home, lodging close to the center before and after your surgery. Some centers offer free or low-cost hospitality houses for you and your family.