Steve's Christmas Miracle
Donation protected
In 2013 Steve was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a progressive and deadly disease with a life expectancy of 5 years. He met with his pulmonologist regularly and did all the things they told him to do in order to make his body stronger, so that hopefully when the time came he would be able to be placed on the transplant list. In June of 2017 his regular pulmonologist informed him that there was nothing left that could be done with the exception of a lung transplant. This came as a shock to both him and the family.
Up to this point he had been working as a maintenance director at an assisted living/memory care facility. He worked hard everyday to provide the best for his family and built some wonderful relationships with the people around him at work. He never failed to help anyone that came to him with a need. He is an amazing husband, father (9 kids), grandfather (12 grandkids) and great-grandfather (1 great-grandchild). I am fortunate enough to be one of the 9 kids.
After months of waiting and weeks of testing he was lucky enough to be placed on the transplant list. Then on the morning of December 19th he got that all important phone call and headed to the hospital. The transplant went perfectly, and he was the recipient of a beautiful pink lung.
Even with the house overflowing with thankfulness and happiness money is getting tight. The goal of this page is to help alleviate some of the financial stress the family is facing as he recovers, and they learn to live a new normal. At this point we don't know the amount of financial need, but there are many factors that go into finding their new normal. He needs someone with him 24/7 for the first 12 weeks after he gets home. Mom has taken Family Medical Leave of Absence so that she can be his main caregiver. Factors to consider range from the cost of masks and hand sanitizer to the cost of life sustaining prescriptions as well as the cost of the transplant itself. The next few months are going to be extremely critical as we learn what it takes to live after a lung transplant.
Up to this point he had been working as a maintenance director at an assisted living/memory care facility. He worked hard everyday to provide the best for his family and built some wonderful relationships with the people around him at work. He never failed to help anyone that came to him with a need. He is an amazing husband, father (9 kids), grandfather (12 grandkids) and great-grandfather (1 great-grandchild). I am fortunate enough to be one of the 9 kids.
After months of waiting and weeks of testing he was lucky enough to be placed on the transplant list. Then on the morning of December 19th he got that all important phone call and headed to the hospital. The transplant went perfectly, and he was the recipient of a beautiful pink lung.
Even with the house overflowing with thankfulness and happiness money is getting tight. The goal of this page is to help alleviate some of the financial stress the family is facing as he recovers, and they learn to live a new normal. At this point we don't know the amount of financial need, but there are many factors that go into finding their new normal. He needs someone with him 24/7 for the first 12 weeks after he gets home. Mom has taken Family Medical Leave of Absence so that she can be his main caregiver. Factors to consider range from the cost of masks and hand sanitizer to the cost of life sustaining prescriptions as well as the cost of the transplant itself. The next few months are going to be extremely critical as we learn what it takes to live after a lung transplant.
Organizer and beneficiary
Brandi Coles
Organizer
North Richland Hills, TX
Cheryl Coles
Beneficiary
