Jeffrey's Lung Transplant Fundraising Mission

As most of you know, our brother and uncle, Jeff DeAngelis, has been battling a terminal Lung Disease. Diagnosed in his mid-thirties with COPD, this disease has now progressed into the biggest fight of his life!

During Christmas of 2018, he landed in the hospital with Bilateral Double Pneumonia with Sepsis. During his stay, he was given Last Rights thinking he was not going to make it out. To his surprise, he rebounded and made a full recovery (or so he thought). The damage to his lungs was significant, leading him to his current Pulmonary Team. Many hospitalizations and doctor visits ensued during the next two years. We tried every treatment available, but nothing worked. The only procedure left was a lung transplant.

Fast forward to June 2021 - 29 individual tests completed, 30 Doctor visits, then being denied by Temple Lung because he wasn't "sick enough", it was hopeless... Now What??

After the denial in December 2021, he tried to keep his disease in check with pulmonary therapy and medication, but it wasn't enough. He couldn't perform his job any longer, nor do any kind of physical tasks. His 32-year career was over in an instant and he was left to pick up the pieces. His employer, Steel Club, placed him on medical leave and told him to get better, and to take his time to heal and focus on his health. He is forever grateful to this company, for they not only paid him during this time but also covered his medical benefits through the transplant process! This led to him readdressing the transplant and starting the testing process all over again. He re-tested from August through December 2022, and on Wednesday, January 11th, 2023, he was finally placed on the Active Lung Donor Transplant Recipient List for a DOUBLE LUNG Transplant!!

Transplantation is not cheap, even with great health care benefits and may take a long time. During this intense process, he spent all of his savings and had to file for Chapter 13 Reorganization to cover his bills. Living alone, with reduced wages has taken its toll. Currently, he will be filing for unemployment, drawing much less of an income as well as rehoming himself to live with his sister during his recovery. He needs to raise money to pay for the following: surgery max out of pocket, travel expenses, dog expenses, rent & utilities, monthly bills, insurances, and daily cost of goods. He will be liquidating what he can, but there is not much left.

Jeff has always been a giver, putting everyone first before himself and now he needs our help. This is a tough pill to swallow, never would he have thought he would be in this position; It happens in an instant!

Please share this with everyone that knows him and our family.

If you are able, please donate; if not, a simple word of encouragement, prayer or text would be greatly appreciated!

Jeff wants to thank his Care Team, Family, Friends & Medical Staff, as to him, you are all his heroes!

Here's to finding an extra-large set of healthy lungs soon!

If you are not an organ donor - please do it now!

Thank you all for your support -

Humbly, the DeAngelis Family for Jeffrey