Father, husband, friend, Keith A. Kelley, passed away on Friday, January 17th. He put up one heck of a fight with life, throughout all of his 69 years. This is to allow you to better understand the ask for help, the need, and for what (specifically whom) it is for.
In May of 2018 my father, Keith Kelley, was blessed with receiving a left lung transplant. He was diagnosed with a rare pulmonary fibrosis disease which deteriorated both lungs. It was a long few years of wondering what was wrong, then waiting on the list, but he was given the opportunity of life again when a lung became available.
In December, my father began experiencing a cough and shortness of breath, having to begin using oxygen again. For a transplant patient, this is not the norm. The day after Christmas he was taken to the Emergency Room where shortly after, due to being a transplant patient, he was transported to University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. They confirmed that he had developed a blood clot in his leg that had moved up to his heart and his transplanted (left) lung, leaving all of the work to be done by his original, already damaged, right lung.
Sadly, dad suffered double cardiac arrest and additional ailments in the hospital after transport. While he underwent multiple procedures to save his life, it was too much for him. But again, he and the medical staff, put up one heck of a fight.
During this time, funeral expenses and medical bills are piling up for my mother. In addition to still paying for dad's transplant costs, mom was diagnosed with Cancer in September 2019. Her bills from diagnoses and treatment are arriving shortly, along with the bills from this last hospital stay of dad's. While some insurance was left, it is not enough and will take some time to be received. For 47 years my mother and father cared and supported one another. Now it is time for us kids to make sure mom is cared for financially.
While asking for assistance is hard, it is what needs to be done. On behalf of my mother, myself, and my brother, I thank you for taking the time to read this and think of our family.
In May of 2018 my father, Keith Kelley, was blessed with receiving a left lung transplant. He was diagnosed with a rare pulmonary fibrosis disease which deteriorated both lungs. It was a long few years of wondering what was wrong, then waiting on the list, but he was given the opportunity of life again when a lung became available.
In December, my father began experiencing a cough and shortness of breath, having to begin using oxygen again. For a transplant patient, this is not the norm. The day after Christmas he was taken to the Emergency Room where shortly after, due to being a transplant patient, he was transported to University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. They confirmed that he had developed a blood clot in his leg that had moved up to his heart and his transplanted (left) lung, leaving all of the work to be done by his original, already damaged, right lung.
Sadly, dad suffered double cardiac arrest and additional ailments in the hospital after transport. While he underwent multiple procedures to save his life, it was too much for him. But again, he and the medical staff, put up one heck of a fight.
During this time, funeral expenses and medical bills are piling up for my mother. In addition to still paying for dad's transplant costs, mom was diagnosed with Cancer in September 2019. Her bills from diagnoses and treatment are arriving shortly, along with the bills from this last hospital stay of dad's. While some insurance was left, it is not enough and will take some time to be received. For 47 years my mother and father cared and supported one another. Now it is time for us kids to make sure mom is cared for financially.
While asking for assistance is hard, it is what needs to be done. On behalf of my mother, myself, and my brother, I thank you for taking the time to read this and think of our family.
Organizer
Crystal Brady
Organizer
Frederick, MD