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Help Danny Breathe Easy

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My husband, Dan Storm, was diagnosed at 7 weeks old with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a lung disease that has no cure. He has been battling this disease for 42 years and he is now in need of a lung transplant.

We need your help.

Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. In people with CF, a defective gene causes a thick, sticky buildup of mucus in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. In the lungs, the mucus clogs the airways and traps bacteria leading to infections, extensive lung damage, and eventually, respiratory failure. In the pancreas, the mucus prevents the release of digestive enzymes that allow the body to break down food and absorb vital nutrients.

When Dan was diagnosed his mother, Debbie, was informed that his life expectancy would be sometime in his early childhood years. Those first few years he had horrible digestive concerns. His body was not allowing him to receive the nutrients he needed when he ate. Getting him to gain weight or keep weight on was a constant struggle. He had to begin taking enzymes with every meal and that has continued his whole life. His breathing concerns began his kindergarten year. He was in and out of the hospital that year and spent his first summer break at Children’s Hospital. His life expectancy changed many times throughout his child and adolescent life. He has lived with constant medications, breathing treatments and hospital visits.

In 1994 Dan had a collapsed lung.  In 2000 Dan went into the hospital with more digestive issues. This time he had a blockage in his colon. He lost 50lbs in 10 days! Surgery was completed at this time. In 2002 Dan had his second collapsed lung. In 2007 Dan began to feel pretty sick. This feeling carried on for a while. In February of 2008 he was back in the hospital and by this time his lung function was down to 19%. It was at then that the doctors told Dan he could no longer work due to his disease. This came as hard news to accept as Dan was very successful in the workforce. For the next few years, without working, Dan was able to bring his lung function up into the 30% range.  In 2017 his condition began to worsen. He felt more rundown more frequently and the lung function numbers he worked so hard to keep up began to fall lower and lower. In January of 2018 Dan got influenza and was in the hospital for 19 days. His lung function was at 14% when he left the hospital on January 19th. He had to go home on oxygen for the first time. Dan didn’t give up though, he continued his breathing treatment, exercise and medication regimens. In May of 2018 Dan was back in the hospital, this time for a round of IV antibiotics. In July of 2018 his lung function had come up to 16%, but that was not enough. It was time to start planning for a lung transplant. Dan was back in the hospital on 8/14/18 and was officially put on the lung transplant list on 8/21/18. He is considered a high priority. So now we wait.

At this time we need help with medical expenses. While insurance covers a bulk of expenses there is much that is doesn’t cover. Dan will have a 12 week recovery process consisting of 24 hour needed care and daily pulmonary rehab. He will be on anti-rejection medications for the rest of his life. All the money donated will help pay for the transplant, care and medical equipment needed for his recovery process.

Anything will help. A HUGE Thank You in advance goes out to all willing to donate to help Dan on this journey. Please share this with your friends!
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $250 
    • 5 yrs
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Organizer

Kelly McCrary
Organizer
St Louis, MO

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