A Double Miracle for Bill

Bill has been living with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) that was diagnosed December 19, 2018 after months of medical testing. It was determined that the PF was brought on from Bill’s history of rheumatoid arthritis. PF is a type of lung disease that results in scarring of the lungs. Over time, the scarring gets worse and becomes harder to breathe. Bill is now in the end stage of PF and is at a point where with any slight amount of exertion his lungs are unable to take in enough oxygen. Bill has been on supplemental oxygen full-time since his diagnosis. He was originally prescribed 4 L of oxygen 24/7 but due to the progression of the disease is currently prescribed and using 15 L 24/7. Due to the severity of the PF Bill is now diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. This means that his heart is now failing as well. He is taking a medication, Tyvaso, that is causing some improvement.

Prior to his diagnosis, Bill was a self-employed landscaper. He loved working outdoors and helping to beautify his community. Bill was always an avid sportsman. He loves spending time with his brothers and friends fishing and hunting. But above all, he loves being a family man to his wife of 33 years, Laura and their adult children, Ashley and Mitchell, his son-in-law, Richard and daughter-in-law, Andrea and the absolute love is of his life, his granddaughter, Cassandra as well as his best friends, his dogs Onyx, Marty and Skol.

Bill was always involved in his children’s sporting endeavors whether it was coaching his son’s football team, running the snack bar during baseball and softball season or volunteering his time with the high school touchdown club. This carried over to attending his granddaughter‘s sporting events of competition cheerleading and taekwondo classes and promotions.

Bill also attended church regularly with his family. Since the onset of his PF, Bill has had to stop attending any and all activities because he requires a high level of support of oxygen that the portable oxygen machine cannot support.

After several extensive tests and a reevaluation on April 14 and 15th with the Duke lung transplant team, Bill received a letter on April 20, 2021. The next steps are now evident:

Bill and Laura will be required to relocate to Durham, North Carolina where Bill will attend extensive pulmonary rehab, participate in transplant education courses, attend six sessions of post transplant care classes as well as other requirements to ready him for a double lung transplant.

All of the requirements as well as the surgery itself will require a lot of extra money that Bill and Laura are hoping to obtain through the goodness of people’s hearts.

The need is great, the goal is set and it is in the hands of a Mighty God.

Bill and Laura thank you for the kind words of support, your prayers and your gifts of financial support.