Funeral Expenses for Will Yanko

This will be the final Update:

William Andrew Yanko

12/20/1964 - 01/28/2023

Will passed with the love of his family and friends.

We are asking for donations for Shelley and family to properly bury this fighter, vet, fireman , so he may now rest in peace.

We appreciate everyone who was on Wills journey with us . God Bless

He needed a Double Lung Transplant due to Interstitial lung disease causing pulmonary fibrosis. This disease is relentless, and Will is struggling for every breath. Even though Will has been turned down by UPMC for a local transplant we are not giving up hope and tying for another facility. Transplants are very complicated and come with many expenses. Such as travel and housing. You are required to stay close to the transplant facility for approximately 3 to 5 months post-surgery release. Will was also warned that rejection medications are pricey and often capped off by insurance. Will was advised by Cleveland clinic that 10 to 15 thousand is needed to be accepted into the program. How do you put a price on someone’s life? Even once the transplant is over the aftercare if still very much needed. It will require many return hospital visits and follow up. Will had to take retirement disability from being a corrections officer. He served also in the Army. Worked hard serving all his life and unfortunately falls right through the cracks with receiving adequate assistance. With the pulmonary fibrosis progression so are his medical needs. Home oxygen, breathing treatments, blood sugar testing supplies and blood thinning shots and a whole list of things come at a very high cost. We are in a race against time and need to prepare for whichever program takes him first. We appreciate all the prayers and help in this difficult time. This means everything to us. We truly understand that times are difficult for everyone and we won’t take one penny for granted knowing and appreciating the sacrifice it comes with. Update to the story as of August 2020. Will is close to the point again of possibly being able to approach Cleveland clinic for a transplant. Since the last big fundraiser in 2019 he has faced many obstacles. They have finally figured out the cause to what caused his heart valve to bad. He was diagnosed with Anti Phospholipid syndrome and Non Viral Libman Sacks endocarditis. Basically his body is attacking his heartall this in addition to the pulmonary fibrosis Just last week at the neurologist appointment he was told to be in early vascular dementia and or Parkinson Disease. We did receive some amazing news that the new medication they started him on last year is showed a slight improvement in his pulmonary function test. God is amazing and still working in Wills life. The everyday cost of this disease is still adding g up so we appreciate all the continued support.