Dalton Peavler’s Double Lung Transplant Journey

On March 29, 2022, Dalton was officially placed on the UNOS transplant list and is now actively waiting for “the call” to receive a double lung transplant. If a match is found, the transplant will take place at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO; four hours away from our home in Shawnee, KS. Barnes-Jewish is the closest lung transplant center to us.

Despite being born with Cystic Fibrosis, by the grace of God, Dalton has been a fighter since he took his first breath. That fight in him has brought him a long way. We have always dreaded that the day might come when his lungs became too diseased for any quality of life. We are devastated and heartbroken that day is now here. Our hope and prayer is that a donor match will come soon and a successful transplant will hopefully be the gift of life and much easier breathing for Dalton.

Transplant patients and families face all kinds of challenges before, during, and after transplant. An unfortunate, yet significant challenge, is the financial strain. Travel back and forth to St. Louis to see the care team while Dalton waits for lungs, inpatient stays at Barnes Jewish when Dalton needs care before a donor is found, relocation expenses to live in St. Louis for three months post-transplant (required), pulmonary rehab, medical expenses not covered by insurance, loss of income for the family as a caregiver is required to be with Dalton 24 hours a day/7 days a week for 12 weeks in St. Louis when he’s discharged after transplant, and life long anti-rejection medications. Proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to lessen these burdens.

We know that times are not easy for many, and for anyone in that situation, please just send us your prayers. The value of prayer is priceless! If you should decide to make a donation, know that our entire family will be forever grateful for your generosity. (If you prefer not to use Gofundme, please reach out to us directly. In lieu of a monetary donation, gift cards for gas, grocery stores in St. Louis, etc., are an alternative.  There is a Walmart and Schnucks grocery store nearby.  Food delivery gift cards would be helpful as well.  Venmo is another option: Jennifer-Peavler-1.  Last 4 digits of my phone number are 8184.  The rental we have found to live in the 3 months after Dalton is discharged is a very small one bedroom.  When family is there with us, gift cards to nearby hotels would be another non-monetary help.  There is a Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn nearby.)

In the event there are any unused funds when this is over, you will have the option to have a shared portion of your donation returned to you or donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the name of all those who made any type of donation. 

Our family is strong; the “always, forever, and no matter what” kind of family. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to give Dalton the gift of life in new lungs. That is who we are and that, along with the love of our family and friends, will get us through this. May God bless and keep our family, and yours, in the palm of His hands.

The Peavler Family

Henry, Jennifer, Rachel, Dalton, and Kayce