Help Gio Pay For A Double Lung Transplant

Gio just had a successful double lung transplant!!!

Gio is my business partner, brother from a different mother, and best friend.

He has suffered from a disease since childhood in Guatemala and was finally diagnosed with scleroderma when he came to America at age 12.

He was told he’d be in a wheelchair by age 17 and dead by 40.

Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy connective tissues, causing them to thicken and harden. This results in skin tightening, reduced flexibility, and potentially affects internal organs. There are two main types: localized scleroderma, primarily affecting the skin, and systemic scleroderma, which can impact organs like the lungs in his case.

Gio has both types.

But he’s stubborn. He's 46 now. He ran a restaurant, started a landscaping business, and eventually got his insurance license.

Along the way, he married Brenda and had two beautiful kids, Laura and “Lil” Gio. And I can’t forget Penny, his furry companion.

It wasn’t until the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 that Gio was able to begin seeking treatment for his symptoms.

After multiple treatments, medications, etc., throughout the years, by Nov 2022, his lung capacity had diminished to less than 50%.

His situation has become so critical that not only was he approved to be a transplant patient at the end of September 2023, he was bumped up high on the list.

On Saturday, October 7th, at 5 in the evening, he received THE call to get to Houston ASAP as a set of lungs were on their way for him. By 10 a.m. on Sunday

morning, he was in surgery, and by 6 p.m. that night, his surgery was done.

Then, the dreaded wait!

As I write this on October 10 at 8 p.m., he continues to defy the odds. Earlier this morning, he was brought out of his coma, and his family was able to communicate with him. He is stubborn, remember!

His situation is still critical, and the recovery is long. He must live in Houston for 3 to 4 months for regular treatment. And the regular travel back to Houston monthly for the following six months.

While, thankfully, insurance covered most of the medical costs, there are still hefty out-of-pocket expenses, specifically relocating the family to Houston for ongoing treatment.

Would you consider sharing this financial burden with Gio and his family? More specifically, his lodging and living costs while away from home.

They estimate that for his time in Houston, his living and transportation costs will be in the neighborhood of $15,000.

Whether you can give financially or not, your prayers are invaluable to him and his family.

Few people I know rival his level of suffering and yet maintain such a positive attitude. I invite you to be part of Gio’s story.

I appreciate your consideration