Dillon's Lung Therapy Fund

Hello everyone! My name is Dillon Hayes and I am 23 years old and have a genetic disease known as Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis is a disease primarily of the lungs that cause bacterial infections, scarring, and lead to a decrease in lung function and eventually death. Currently, CF (Cystic Fibrosis) is the number one genetic killer of children and young adults in the United States and there is no cure. I am currently at about 50 percent lung function and I have an amazing opportunity to partake in new break-through stem cell therapy that has proven to significantly increase a CF patient’s lung function. The procedure is done by harvesting my own naturally occurring stem cells and reintroducing them into my lung tissue. The estimated total cost for the initial treatment, follow-up "booster" treatments, travel, lodging and all other expenses amount to $40,000.

The treatment will be done in Lima, Peru by a highly qualified team of physicians and research scientists from the U.S. that I've personally met with. The treatment spans a total of 5 days.

I ask for your help in raising the funds to repair my damaged lung tissue so that I am healthy enough to continue working hard on my dream to become a biomedical engineer. As a biomedical engineer, I will be researching and applying new gene and stem cell therapies (a.k.a. regenerative medicine) that can be utilized by not just other CF patients but countless other terminally ill patients that could benefit from these similar therapies. I am very passionate about this field of research and it’s future effects on all of our lives. I believe that many cures and life saving therapies will come from this new field of medicine and with your help I can continue my charge to advance this amazing technology.

I greatly appreciate any contribution and any share! Thank you all so much.