Our friend Joey tested positive back in July for COVID-19. Joey was admitted to the ICU and later transferred to San Antonio for special treatment. After a long battle with COVID, including intubation and ECMO, he has overcome the virus but has been left with extensive lung damage. The damage to his lungs is so great, that he remains on ECMO and is currently awaiting a double lung transplant. For those of you who may not know, in ECMO, blood is pumped outside of your body to a heart-lung machine that removes carbon dioxide and sends oxygen-filled blood back to tissues in the body. This is the strongest form of life support and without it he would not be able to oxygenate his own blood. 

In addition, Joey was recently let go from his job and lost his health insurance. Due to lack of insurance, he has lost his placement on the transplant list. He cannot be placed back on the list until he can pay for new insurance. This is his most immediate need. The insurance available to him right now is very expensive and with no income, impossible for him to pay for on his own.  

Obviously, months of hospitalization and treatments have also left a pile of medical bills and expenses. While the transplant will save his life, it will add even more medical costs to the already overwhelming total. 

Prior to COVID, Joey was a healthy and active dad and a loving friend to many. He has always been the kind of person who would be the first to help anyone in need. Now, he needs the help of others to get this lifesaving procedure. 

If you could find it in your heart to donate, it would be greatly appreciated! Anything helps!