Hello, my name is Jack Paladin Spady, and I am creating this fundraiser to raise living expenses for moving to Pittsburgh for a couple months while attempting to get a lung transplant.

 

For more details, I am a 22 year old who was diagnosed with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis, otherwise known as Wegener's Granulomatosis, when I was 15 years old. It is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of blood vessels and commonly causes kidney damage. However, in my case, it has instead caused great damage to my lungs and the rest of my respiratory system, to the point that my left lung has completely failed and my right lung only works half as well as it should. My airway also is badly damaged. I commonly get occlusions in my airway that I require regular surgery to remove, else I will begin to suffocate, and I have been to the ER and been in the ICU for it every few weeks. On occasion, it has even caused me to have seizures due to lack of oxygen.

 

Since I was 17, we have been looking into getting a transplant at numerous facilities, until finally, I was accepted at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's transplant program. Despite being a complicated case, due to my anatomy and symptoms, they have taken on the challenge and said they are willing to transplant me once I complete a checklist. My checklist is nearly done, and now, I need to move up closer to Pittsburgh. I was going to move in with family, however, due to unacceptable conditions regarding a member of the household refusing to get the COVID vaccine, and myself being extremely vulnerable to it due to my respiratory damage, that is no longer an option, and I must move up directly to Pittsburgh. However, I do not have anyone that can move with me, and I do not have any money for rent, food, or transport back and forth from the hospital.

 

Up until the pandemic, I was living with the above family, who helped me by paying for all my living expenses and taking me to the many surgeries and doctor's appointments I had. That will no longer be the case, and I am left with no other option but Gofundme to help.

 

All of the money from this Gofundme will be put towards living expenses in Pittsburgh, such as rent, food, electricity, as well as transport to and from the hospital for my respiratory therapy and appointments. It will also go towards any medical requirements I must fulfill prior to transplant that my insurance will not cover. If I am unable to pay for the living expenses, I will be unable to move, and therefore unable to be transplanted. This is likely my last chance for transplantation before the remaining lung fails completely.

A breakdown of roughly how much it will cost for 6 months: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/489839190805053460/909137321427861554/image2.jpeg

 

Attached below will be some pictures illustrating my situation.