Matt's Incredible Mission
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If you are lucky enough to know my Uncle Matt, you know he is the definition of a human teddy bear. He is the kind of person who is always there for everyone, without ever having to be asked. He knows how to make you smile when you are feeling down, talk to you about any topic imaginable without even a hint of judgement, and plot a good old-fashioned prank when you aren’t looking. To put it simply: my Uncle Matt is one of my favorite people on the planet.
For the man who has always been the kind of person to give the shirt off his back to whoever needs it without question, it is time that the same thing is done for him, and we need your help!
My uncle, Matthew Palladino, is currently on the transplant list to receive a new set of lungs. After years of testing determined that his lungs contain so much disease, this is the best option for him to continue his strive toward a happier and healthier life. His overall case is a rare one, that puzzles even the best of medical professionals, with his current pulmonologist from the New York Presbyterian Hospital stating that he has never seen a case quite like this one.
He has had multiple biopsies and procedures to try to determine the cause of his severe lung disease, but all of the medical professionals have been stumped. What they do know, is that he is considered to be end stage COPD with severe bronchiectasis. His total lung function currently operates at a 22%. He has been on home oxygen since April 2017. He is only in his 40s.
Before December 26th 1995, Uncle Matt was a star athlete on his high school’s football team, and was very much a typical, healthy young adult who was preparing for the expected journey that life should have taken him on. But at 21 years old, his life was forever changed by what the doctors said was a horrible combination of the flu, pneumonia, and asthma. He states that all of the sudden, he woke up intubated in a hospital bed from a two week coma, not knowing where he was, what happened, or why he couldn’t move, breathe, or talk. He didn’t know that his family and future wife had been witnessing an illness tear down and destroy a strong, healthy young man. At one point, his loved ones were even told that he wasn’t going to make it through the night. They all said their goodbyes to him. Thank god that wasn’t truly goodbye.
You see, Matt Palladino is known for being sort of a mystery to those who work in the medical field. He was never a smoker, never known to have allergic reactions, and never before experienced an asthma attack, yet all of a sudden, it was as if he was placed in a different body, and set out to live a completely different life. Despite the initial diagnosis given to him in 1995, doctors remain uncertain as to why his lungs have deteriorated to such extremes at such a young age. Medical professionals have attempted different medications, medical theories, and surgical procedures, all of which have not achieved the significant level of impact that we have all been hoping for.
Almost 25 years later, life has been a rollercoaster for this loving husband and father of four amazing kids. His children Emma, Matthew, Anthony, and Allison have all had to grow up watching their dad suffer an unimaginable amount of severe asthma attacks which have sent him into the hospital many, many times.
In spite of living through the impossible, Uncle Matt continued to be a full-time worker throughout most of his adult life, even working through asthma attacks during his shifts, until three years ago when his pulmonologist said the time had come for him to go on disability. My uncle loved his job, but his breathing had gotten so bad that he was taking high doses of steroids just to attempt maintaining a level of breathability that still was not anywhere close to how well a normal person can breathe. It simply became too much, and was no longer a sustainable way of life.
Being such a people person, and not known to be a static homebody, this was yet another life-altering blow. But he knew that the best decision would be to follow the pulmonologist’s orders (who has been with him since his original hospitalization in 1995), and prioritize his health now more than ever with the help of his wife, my amazing Aunt Nicole, always being the embodiment of strength by his side.
Flash forward to life now, in the year 2020: Uncle Matt has been to the New York Presbyterian Hospital approximately two times a year over the past three years for testing as well as seminars. Although he is dealing with the absolute best care from medical professionals, doctors are still puzzled at his case.
Operating at such a low lung function, he now awaits a new set of lungs to help improve his quality of life.
With the amazing opportunity of this surgery, comes many medical expenses. It is our hope that we can achieve our goal of $20,000 so that my uncle and his family will be able to focus on his health surrounding this new set of lungs, and spend quality time together instead of having to worry so much about the financial aspect of things.
Will you help us by donating and joining Matt's Incredible Mission to his double lung transplant?
PLEASE NOTE: On 11/10/2020 Matt received his new pair of lungs! But the mission is far from over.
Like our page on Facebook and stay up to date on the journey!
Susan Schultz is the sister of Matthew Palladino. She is listed as the beneficiary, as she manages the funds account linked to this Go Fund Me.
For the man who has always been the kind of person to give the shirt off his back to whoever needs it without question, it is time that the same thing is done for him, and we need your help!
My uncle, Matthew Palladino, is currently on the transplant list to receive a new set of lungs. After years of testing determined that his lungs contain so much disease, this is the best option for him to continue his strive toward a happier and healthier life. His overall case is a rare one, that puzzles even the best of medical professionals, with his current pulmonologist from the New York Presbyterian Hospital stating that he has never seen a case quite like this one.
He has had multiple biopsies and procedures to try to determine the cause of his severe lung disease, but all of the medical professionals have been stumped. What they do know, is that he is considered to be end stage COPD with severe bronchiectasis. His total lung function currently operates at a 22%. He has been on home oxygen since April 2017. He is only in his 40s.
Before December 26th 1995, Uncle Matt was a star athlete on his high school’s football team, and was very much a typical, healthy young adult who was preparing for the expected journey that life should have taken him on. But at 21 years old, his life was forever changed by what the doctors said was a horrible combination of the flu, pneumonia, and asthma. He states that all of the sudden, he woke up intubated in a hospital bed from a two week coma, not knowing where he was, what happened, or why he couldn’t move, breathe, or talk. He didn’t know that his family and future wife had been witnessing an illness tear down and destroy a strong, healthy young man. At one point, his loved ones were even told that he wasn’t going to make it through the night. They all said their goodbyes to him. Thank god that wasn’t truly goodbye.
You see, Matt Palladino is known for being sort of a mystery to those who work in the medical field. He was never a smoker, never known to have allergic reactions, and never before experienced an asthma attack, yet all of a sudden, it was as if he was placed in a different body, and set out to live a completely different life. Despite the initial diagnosis given to him in 1995, doctors remain uncertain as to why his lungs have deteriorated to such extremes at such a young age. Medical professionals have attempted different medications, medical theories, and surgical procedures, all of which have not achieved the significant level of impact that we have all been hoping for.
Almost 25 years later, life has been a rollercoaster for this loving husband and father of four amazing kids. His children Emma, Matthew, Anthony, and Allison have all had to grow up watching their dad suffer an unimaginable amount of severe asthma attacks which have sent him into the hospital many, many times.
In spite of living through the impossible, Uncle Matt continued to be a full-time worker throughout most of his adult life, even working through asthma attacks during his shifts, until three years ago when his pulmonologist said the time had come for him to go on disability. My uncle loved his job, but his breathing had gotten so bad that he was taking high doses of steroids just to attempt maintaining a level of breathability that still was not anywhere close to how well a normal person can breathe. It simply became too much, and was no longer a sustainable way of life.
Being such a people person, and not known to be a static homebody, this was yet another life-altering blow. But he knew that the best decision would be to follow the pulmonologist’s orders (who has been with him since his original hospitalization in 1995), and prioritize his health now more than ever with the help of his wife, my amazing Aunt Nicole, always being the embodiment of strength by his side.
Flash forward to life now, in the year 2020: Uncle Matt has been to the New York Presbyterian Hospital approximately two times a year over the past three years for testing as well as seminars. Although he is dealing with the absolute best care from medical professionals, doctors are still puzzled at his case.
Operating at such a low lung function, he now awaits a new set of lungs to help improve his quality of life.
With the amazing opportunity of this surgery, comes many medical expenses. It is our hope that we can achieve our goal of $20,000 so that my uncle and his family will be able to focus on his health surrounding this new set of lungs, and spend quality time together instead of having to worry so much about the financial aspect of things.
Will you help us by donating and joining Matt's Incredible Mission to his double lung transplant?
PLEASE NOTE: On 11/10/2020 Matt received his new pair of lungs! But the mission is far from over.
Like our page on Facebook and stay up to date on the journey!
Susan Schultz is the sister of Matthew Palladino. She is listed as the beneficiary, as she manages the funds account linked to this Go Fund Me.
Organizer and beneficiary
Alyssa Palladino
Organizer
Valley Falls, NY
Susan Schultz
Beneficiary
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