Help Zach Alessi beat cancer post lung transplant

Zach Alessi was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at 18 mos. of age. He had a mostly normal physically active childhood playing baseball and football until he started having more serious pulmonary illnesses his junior year of high school. The summer between his junior and senior year he developed a serious secondary infection called Mycobacterium Abscessus which greatly complicated things with his CF and overall health. Zach had to give up his senior year of being the quarterback on his high school football team, graduated from high school in Spring of 2019, tried to go to college at California Baptist University that fall, but only made it one semester before he had to drop out due to his continual failing health.

In early 2020, Zach’s lungs started to begin seriously declining due to the cystic fibrosis and Mycobacterium infection. The Alessi’s were told it was time for a double lung transplant and because of this persistent now even more serious Mycobacterium complication, Duke Hospital in Durham, North Carolina was recommended for the procedure as most transplant centers nationwide would not transplant a Mycobacterium patient. His parents Randy and Beth, along with Zach, needed to relocate to Durham, rent an apartment in North Carolina (which meant running two households) while Zach was listed for transplant.

On May 5, 2021, Zach had his double lung transplant and all were hopeful the rehabilitation process would only consist of a few months allowing all to go back home to California. But complication after complication have developed mostly all due to that residual Mycobacterium infection that moved to his chest cavity, prominently delaying Zach’s rehab and greatly extending the family’s time there in NC. After being on several IV meds and feeding tubes since the surgery in May, Zach was then diagnosed with PTLD, a form of post-transplant lymphoma. Through all this Beth and Randy have been acting as a full-time caregivers for Zach in NC while Shelby his sister, has remained in CA working two jobs and taking care of the family home and dog, and growing up fast in the process. Neither Beth or Randy have been able to work much beyond caretaking while in North Carolina, especially Randy as he is not licensed in NC and the COVID concerns around his immunosuppressed son. A very difficult time.

The Alessi family have been friends of ours for decades. They are a kind, loving and close-knit Christian family. Anyone who has dealt with a serious chronic family illness knows the enormous fiscal impact it has, that insurance does not cover everything and how emotionally and financially devastating it is to the family.

Zach is only 20 years old. He has fought his whole life and will continue to do so. This recent cancer diagnosis is now definitely going to require a much longer than expected time in North Carolina, a whole new series of expensive treatments and additional time away from friends, loved ones and resuming normal life in California.

We know this is a tough time for everyone. Please know every little bit helps and it is truly appreciated.