Help Mike Spiva with his lung transplant expenses
Donation protected
August 1st 2019 Mike Spiva was diagnosed with Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) which is a type of chronic scarring lung disease characterized by a progressive and irreversible decline in lung function, never to get better without a lung transplant.
About 5 million people are affected globally and the disease newly occurs in about 12 per 100,000 people per year. Males are affected more often than females. Average life expectancy following diagnosis is about 3 – 5 years.
There was a lengthy “pre lung transplant testing” which included about 36 different medical tests and a trip to the dentist to have a tooth removed. It took Mike a while to work up the courage to have this testing done because he knew that if doctors found anything during testing it would prevent him from having the transplant and he would have no other options remaining to recover.
Mike was able to qualify based on his income for a medicine that is designed to slow the progression of the IPF however it was not working for him (which does happen for some people) and his oxygen levels were getting worse and he was going downhill faster than we thought he would. Having to spend more time on oxygen pushed him to make the decision to move forward with the double lung transplant testing.
On July 12th Mike started the pre-lung testing and on September 17 at 11:38am he received a call telling him that he was listed for a Double Lung Transplant. By the grace of God, on November 21st HE GOT THE CALL TO GET NEW LUNGS and he had the 9-hour surgery the following day. It was not easy, and he had a few complications during surgery and during recovery but as Mike says, “There was NEVER a time I didn’t feel the presence of God by my side.”
Following a few complications, Mike was in ICU 17 days then a step-down unit for an additional 7. He was released on the 17th only to go back for 6 more days because he developed a 103-degree fever (the cause was never determined). He was then blessed to come home on December 23rd and spend his 43rd Christmas with Jill, his wife and best friend.
He is working hard every day to get stronger, however, the transplant team says the first year of the recovery process is the hardest and that he and Jill will have to remain in quarantine until the end of June.
Mike says, “I have a lot to live for; a lot to do with Jill, a lot to do with my 3 children and their spouses, and of course my 7 Grandkids! One of them (James) born during this time, I haven’t met yet….so you see living and breathing has a high priority in my life!”
Jill had to temporarily close her business Joyful Expressions by Jill (completing only the weddings she had booked) to become Mike’s full-time caregiver and taxi driver. Mike has to attend several medical appointments each week. This has limited their income to only Mike’s Social Security, and they have found themselves in a financial bind.
Mike and Jill had a hard time with the idea of us starting this GoFundMe for them because SO many people have already blessed them with money, needed supplies, or grocery gift cards. They have been so grateful! So many people have reached out to us and to Mike and Jill wanting to help more or saying they didn’t get a chance to help and they want to do something… right now this is the help that Mike and Jill need the most.
They believe they can get by with requesting a total of $5,000 which will cover the first month of Mike’s meds ($3000) that he just had to pay for this week. This amount will meet his insurance out-of-pocket and deductible for the remainder of the year. The additional $2,000 will be used to help replace some of Jill’s income over the next few months to help pay monthly bills as she cares for Mike. Donations to this campaign will immediately begin helping Mike and Jill to cover the cost of his medication and for their living expenses while Jill takes care of him.
IF you feel led to help in this way…thank you in advance for your support! Words can never express the gratitude our family has for you to even consider such a kind gesture in this time of financial need for Mike and Jill.
With much love and blessings,
Ruth, Sarah, and Sam (Mike and Jill’s kids)
About 5 million people are affected globally and the disease newly occurs in about 12 per 100,000 people per year. Males are affected more often than females. Average life expectancy following diagnosis is about 3 – 5 years.
There was a lengthy “pre lung transplant testing” which included about 36 different medical tests and a trip to the dentist to have a tooth removed. It took Mike a while to work up the courage to have this testing done because he knew that if doctors found anything during testing it would prevent him from having the transplant and he would have no other options remaining to recover.
Mike was able to qualify based on his income for a medicine that is designed to slow the progression of the IPF however it was not working for him (which does happen for some people) and his oxygen levels were getting worse and he was going downhill faster than we thought he would. Having to spend more time on oxygen pushed him to make the decision to move forward with the double lung transplant testing.
On July 12th Mike started the pre-lung testing and on September 17 at 11:38am he received a call telling him that he was listed for a Double Lung Transplant. By the grace of God, on November 21st HE GOT THE CALL TO GET NEW LUNGS and he had the 9-hour surgery the following day. It was not easy, and he had a few complications during surgery and during recovery but as Mike says, “There was NEVER a time I didn’t feel the presence of God by my side.”
Following a few complications, Mike was in ICU 17 days then a step-down unit for an additional 7. He was released on the 17th only to go back for 6 more days because he developed a 103-degree fever (the cause was never determined). He was then blessed to come home on December 23rd and spend his 43rd Christmas with Jill, his wife and best friend.
He is working hard every day to get stronger, however, the transplant team says the first year of the recovery process is the hardest and that he and Jill will have to remain in quarantine until the end of June.
Mike says, “I have a lot to live for; a lot to do with Jill, a lot to do with my 3 children and their spouses, and of course my 7 Grandkids! One of them (James) born during this time, I haven’t met yet….so you see living and breathing has a high priority in my life!”
Jill had to temporarily close her business Joyful Expressions by Jill (completing only the weddings she had booked) to become Mike’s full-time caregiver and taxi driver. Mike has to attend several medical appointments each week. This has limited their income to only Mike’s Social Security, and they have found themselves in a financial bind.
Mike and Jill had a hard time with the idea of us starting this GoFundMe for them because SO many people have already blessed them with money, needed supplies, or grocery gift cards. They have been so grateful! So many people have reached out to us and to Mike and Jill wanting to help more or saying they didn’t get a chance to help and they want to do something… right now this is the help that Mike and Jill need the most.
They believe they can get by with requesting a total of $5,000 which will cover the first month of Mike’s meds ($3000) that he just had to pay for this week. This amount will meet his insurance out-of-pocket and deductible for the remainder of the year. The additional $2,000 will be used to help replace some of Jill’s income over the next few months to help pay monthly bills as she cares for Mike. Donations to this campaign will immediately begin helping Mike and Jill to cover the cost of his medication and for their living expenses while Jill takes care of him.
IF you feel led to help in this way…thank you in advance for your support! Words can never express the gratitude our family has for you to even consider such a kind gesture in this time of financial need for Mike and Jill.
With much love and blessings,
Ruth, Sarah, and Sam (Mike and Jill’s kids)
Co-organizers (3)
Sam Spiva
Organizer
Bremerton, WA
Mike Spiva
Beneficiary
Sarah Johnson
Co-organizer
Ruth Saenger
Co-organizer