Family and Friends,

We are reaching out with heavy hearts and hopeful spirits to share some difficult news about my dad, Shane.

After years of fighting to breathe, my dad has learned that he will need a double lung transplant to survive. His transplant team at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, has confirmed that this is his only chance. Before they can begin the transplant process, Duke requires our family to raise at a minimum of $30,000 to help cover his medical costs and the cost of relocation, as he must live near Duke for at least six months during and after the transplant process.

For more than 10 years, my dad has struggled with severe lung disease. During this time, he has dedicated his life to serving others by coaching softball (high school at Fred T Foard & travel softball for Catawba Valley Storm), working for Sherrills Furniture for the past 40 years, and loving his family. About a decade ago, he underwent a lung volume reduction surgery at Duke—an incredibly difficult procedure that gave him precious extra time before a transplant became unavoidable. Over the past two years, his health has declined rapidly. Despite being diagnosed with COPD, emphysema, and advanced lung disease, he has continued to work, fight, and show up for his family every day with the help of breathing treatments, daily medications, and oxygen.

Today, my dad’s lung function is down to 24%, and he relies on oxygen 24 hours a day just to stay alive. In the past year, his condition has worsened to the point where he can no longer do much beyond going to work and trying to maintain his strength and spirit. Still, he has never stopped fighting—because all he wants is more time with the people he loves.

This next step brings hope, but it also comes with overwhelming financial and logistical challenges. Duke requires my dad to relocate to the Durham area for:

-Pre-transplant pulmonary rehabilitation

-Transplant surgery and an extended hospital stay

-Months of intensive post-transplant follow-ups and monitoring

All of this must happen far from home, work, and the life he knows. Even with insurance, the costs are staggering. Funds raised will help cover:

-Housing near Duke University Medical Center for the duration of the full transplant process and recovery

-Transportation for his full-time caregivers (his wife and daughters)

-Medical costs not fully covered by insurance, including medications, co-pays, and travel

-Daily living expenses while he resides away from home

Asking for help isn't easy, but even a small contribution can make a huge difference and bring us one step closer to ensuring he receives the medical care he needs to live. We are asking for help because time is critical. This transplant is not optional—it is life-saving. Every donation, every share, and every prayer helps bring my dad one step closer to breathing on his own again and enjoying the simple things he has missed for far too long—time outside, family trips, and moments that most of us take for granted.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting our family during the hardest fight of our lives. Your kindness, prayers, and generosity are giving my dad hope—and the chance at the future he deserves and is fighting so hard to reach.

With love and gratitude,

Shania