I'm Tom!

At the end of 2019, I was hospitalized with pneumonia. During my hospitalization, I clinically died three times—for a total of 13 minutes without a heartbeat.

When I woke up weeks later, I had survived something nearly no one does. But survival came at a price: I was partially paralyzed, in heart failure, and facing a long road of recovery. Against the odds, I slowly regained the ability to walk and eventually returned to teaching physics and rebuilding my life.

For years, I fought to stay stable. In 2019, I received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to protect my heart. It worked for a while—but in late 2024, my health began to decline rapidly. Unbeknownst to me, the ICD had silently failed. I was completely unprotected for months, and by the time the failure was discovered, my heart function had deteriorated to the point that I now need a heart transplant.

This year alone, my medical care has exceeded $1 million in billed charges. I now live connected to a continuous IV drug that helps keep my heart beating. I can no longer work, and the transplant process has overwhelmed every part of my life—physically, emotionally, and financially.

The cost for a heart transplant starts at about$1.4 Million, with follow-uopcare a regimen of lifelong immuno-suppressants to prevent rejection. These cost anywhere from $1000 - $3000 /mo. My insurance will cover some, but noy all of these costs.

I never imagined I'd be in this position—asking for help just to survive—but here I am. Anything you can give will go directly to medical costs, transplant-related expenses, medications, and long-term support. If you can't donate, please consider sharing this page.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for keeping hope alive.

With gratitude,

Tom Langley