Help Bill with lung transplant costs due to Covid
As many of you know Bill loves life, his family and friends. Has was very active enjoyed camping, handyman work, exploring new restaurants, wine tasting and had an active social life before Covid hit in 2020. He started working for Trimet as a platform maintenance worker and recently changed positions to decontaminate the max rail lines in mid-March. With this new position came a shift change where he worked the night shift and slept during the day. It was a tough adjustment, but we were dedicated to making it work for our family. It was shortly
after that new position in early April that he began to have flu-like symptoms and on April 14, 2021 Bill was diagnosed with Covid-19.
Three days later, he was hospitalized with Covid-19 Pneumonia.
He was lucky enough early on to only have to quarantine in a regular hospital room and supporting Bill on face time we were able to be
optimistic. He only needed a nasal canulla and he was having good oxygen saturation levels with only this intervention. We were hopeful
his lungs would begin healing within the 3-4 weeks time the physicians were anticipating. He then took a downward turn that required him to go on ventilation. This was a short-lived intervention and since he was still declining rapidly after ventilation, the decision was made to
change from ventilation and place him life support with the extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system. The blood is pumped
outside of your body to a heart-lung machine that removes carbon dioxide and sends oxygen-filled blood back to tissues in the body.
The physicians gave us roughly 30 days to wait for his lungs to heal.
At the 30 day mark, Bill’s lungs were not progressing with the natural healing as anticipated with the ECMO support. We continued to be
optimistic but as of June 10, 2021, he is at hospital day 52 and ECMO day 39. The CT scan done on June 9, 2021 showed permanent lung
tissue scarring that will not heal on it’s own. In order for Bill to potentially live another 15-20 years and have a good quality of life, as well
as be able to enjoy his family and friends, the decision was made to consider him for a double lung transplant. He is now in the window for
this procedure and is being considered as a candidate for Covid-19 pneumonia double lung transplant surgery.
There are 3 hospital locations that are doing Covid double lung transplants on the West coast: Seattle, UCSF, and Stanford. In order for us
to have the transplant surgery, WE NEED TO RELOCATE TO THE CITY WHERE HE'LL BE HAVING THE PROCEDURE FOR A YEAR.
Your support will help us during that year pay for Bill's medical transports to the city where surgery will happen, hospital and doctor visits and living expenses. Please know that ANY amount you share will be greatly appreciated.
I found this article online about the procedure at Stanford. Please follow the link to read about this life-saving surgery.
We are asking for your prayers, well wishes and support during this very trying time in our lives. We thank you all for the time you took to
read our story and knowing that we have your support, in any way, fills our hearts with so much gratitude and love. Thank you again.
We love you all so much… Bill and Helen ~
