<div>After taking some time to process the information we received at Justin’s appointment with the Cleveland Clinic, we wanted to share an update with everyone. It was important for us to talk with our kids, Justin’s parents, and his sisters first before posting publicly. We went into this appointment hoping to talk about treatment options that might’ve helped Justin avoid a transplant. Unfortunately, we were hit with the harsh reality that a transplant is now the only option to save his life.

Justin will need a multivisceral transplant, meaning he will receive a liver, pancreas, and intestinal transplant all at once. All of these organs must come from a single donor, which makes this an extremely rare, high risk, and complex surgery. Because of how complicated this procedure is, Justin will have to go through a long and detailed evaluation process before he can even be approved and placed on the transplant list.

Another major challenge we are now facing is location. The transplant team requires patients to live within four hours of Cleveland so they can get to the hospital immediately when a donor becomes available. The wait for a donor could be a year or longer, which means we somehow have to figure out how to temporarily relocate to Cleveland for as long as necessary while still maintaining our home and responsibilities here in CT.

If Justin receives the transplant, he will spend 1–2 months in the ICU, followed by at least 6 more months living in Cleveland so the transplant team can monitor him closely. To decrease the risk of infection, they strongly recommend staying in a furnished apartment rather than a hotel.

One of the biggest requirements is that Justin can never be alone after surgery. He will require 24/7 care the entire time he is in Cleveland. In order for him to even be approved for the transplant list, we must provide the transplant team with a list of family and friends who are willing and able to travel to Cleveland, stay with him around the clock, help him get to appointments, monitor for signs of organ rejection, and monitor his medications. They were very clear that one person cannot do this alone — we will need a rotation of caregivers. They were very clear that I will NEED to be relieved by others. 

We return to Cleveland on April 14th for 1–2 weeks of testing and a full medical and psychological evaluation to determine if Justin can even be placed on the transplant list.

Right now, our family is still trying to process everything. The past two days have been incredibly emotional, and the reality of what lies ahead feels overwhelming. The logistics alone are daunting — frequent travel back and forth to Cleveland, finding a reliable car for all the driving, securing housing there for months, and somehow managing life at home while being 9 hours away from our kids and our dogs. The emotional toll this will take on our family is something we are trying not to think too far ahead about. We are focused on his chance to live; his chance at a normal life.

But the truth is, we cannot do this alone.

We are asking for help in ways that feel incredibly difficult to ask for. When this process begins, there will be so much that needs to be taken care of at home, and I do not want that burden falling on our kids when they are already going through so much.

The upcoming benefit for Justin and the GoFundMe are going to be absolutely critical for our family. The financial burden of what lies ahead is something we simply cannot manage without the support of our community. Travel, housing, medical expenses, and months of living away from home are going to add up quickly, and right now we honestly don’t know how we will make this work without help.

If you are able to support Justin in any way — by donating, sharing, praying, helping with the benefit, or even being willing to travel to Cleveland to help care for him — it would mean more than we could ever put into words.

We are asking for your prayers, your support, and your help now more than ever.

Thank you for standing beside Justin and our family as we face one of the hardest fights of our lives.
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<div>On 10/31/25 our family faced the unthinkable — my brother, Justin, suffered a sudden medical emergency that doctors said had only a 10% chance of survival. Through immeasurable strength, quick medical care, and countless prayers &amp; support, he beat the odds and is still with us today. He is the definition of a <strong>miracle.</strong>

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<div>As many of you know, Justin has battled some of the most complex medical issues and medical mysteries over the past 14+ years; most of which stem from his miraculous survival from a near fatal snowmobile accident in 2001. (Did I mention he is a miracle?) Repeated hospitalizations, ongoing medical appointments, and necessary travel for care, have all come at the cost of decreased income and increased expenses.

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<div>This most recent medical emergency has taken a major toll on his body. The road ahead will be a long one, but if there’s one thing we know, it’s that Justin is a fighter. He will be out of work for <strong>at least</strong> the next three months as he focuses on healing and regaining his strength. In addition, because of this recent medical event and his already complex health challenges, there’s a strong possibility that Justin may need to medically retire. If this occurs, the waiting period for approval of his medical retirement is likely to be a very long one. A long wait that will likely be unpaid and with health insurance that will need to be paid for out of pocket.

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<div>Our family wants to do everything possible to help Justin and Renee focus on what needs to be done to help him heal without the added stress of worrying about finances.

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<div>We are deeply grateful for any kindness you can offer — whether it’s words of encouragement, a donation, or simply sharing this with others who may want to help.

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<div><strong>Thank you from the bottom of our hearts </strong>for all the love, support, and hope you’ve already shown our family. We couldn't do this without all of you.

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<div>With gratitude,

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<div>Justin's Family

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Jeremy F

Donna Cote

Cheryl Huber

Justin Lewis

Michael Gasteyer

Frances White

Lisa J Coyne

Alan Seagrave

Jeffrey Mcintyre

Diana Higgins

Karen Ann

Anonymous

Danielle DiZazzo

Eric Glinsky

Kevin J Piper

Matthew Martinez

Philip Kane

Justin's Fight: Life-Saving Transplant Ahead

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Justin's Fight: Life-Saving Transplant Ahead

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