Hi, my name is Julie Younce. My son Aaron is in the process of visits to Duke transplant in NC for a double lung transplant.

Aaron was born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, where his stomach, liver, spleen, and part of his intestines went into his chest, not allowing his left lung to grow. He spent 3 months in the NICU due to many complications and pulmonary hypertension. He spent his first 3 years on oxygen 24/7. Throughout the years, he has battled PH and been off and on oxygen. In 2023, he started noticing a decline in his breathing. We saw specialists after specialists and new medication for his asthma, lung disease, and PH. Nothing was helping. By 2024, his lung function dropped so much he required 24/7 oxygen again. The pulmonary specialist then sent him to Duke as there was nothing more they could do. He currently is in pulmonary rehab 3 days a week in our town to try to get stronger for the transplant.

This is where I need your help, so I can be there for Aaron to help him. Part of our long list of stuff to do to be added to the transplant list is to have the money to relocate him and myself (his caregiver) to Durham for approximately 6 months. This money is also to help me pay for stable waiting rehab for Aaron as well as any medications his insurance won't cover. Until we raise this money (as well as finish his test and vaccines), he cannot be added to the transplant list.

Any amount can help as the expenses of relocating and for other medical expenses and equiptment are more than we could ever afford.

This is lengthy, but I wanted to share some about Aaron and his journey thus far.