Mike’s Journey to New Lungs

We are full of gratitude for your concern that has found you on here. There are no words or actions that can show our gratefulness of your considerations to help our father & our family in anyway you can.

Our father, Michael Potes had a chronic cough that would not go away in 2017. He received a cat scan then, but doctors could not diagnose what the actual issue was. A few years later in 2020, after dealing with this chronic cough, he saw another lung specialist where they found fibrosis in his lungs and then diagnosed him with IPF, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a terminal condition in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult as the the tissues progressively thicken and continue to create stiffness.

It's not clear what causes it, but it usually affects people around 70-75 years of age and is rare in people under 50. Our father was diagnosed at 63. Once diagnosed, life expectancy decreases to 2-5 years. As we are reaching the 3rd year since diagnosis, our father’s condition has worsened so much so, that within this last year he has lost over 30 lbs due to the progression and a huge loss of appetite. Daily simple tasks such as showering, cooking, eating, and even speaking leave him breathless, coughing, and unable to perform without strain.

Several treatments can help reduce the rate at which IPF gets worse, but there's currently a poor prognosis as well as no treatment that can stop or reverse the scarring of the lungs. However, lung transplantation remains the only therapeutic option to restore lung function and improve quality of life and survival.

Since our father’s condition is rapidly declining, he was expedited to undergo rigorous tests of transplant evaluation in just one week, in what usually takes months!! After many of your prayers and energetic intentions, he passed all of the tests and was presented to the selection board and is now placed on the list to receive a lung transplant!!

Although lung transplant is a complex and high risk procedure, as well as a life altering experience for he & our entire family will know, we found it necessary to extend not only the length but also the quality of his life. To us there just is no other option but to have him here with us for as long as possible, as anyone would with those they love.

We now have to relocate him to the transplantation center within a few days of being selected. His transplant will be conducted by the Lung transplant program at UCSD Health. We currently reside in Las Vegas, NV so this is the reason we are asking for your help.

He and my eldest brother, Nigel (his main caregiver) will have to relocate to CA and reside there for up to six months to a year while undergoing treatment, therapy, and healing. In this time our family will lose income and expenses will rise for travel, food, basic necessities, and out of pocket medical expenses. As well as other financial responsibilities that may accrue.

So, as a family, we ask for any help you might be able to give. If you know our father personally, you know how hardworking, kindhearted, selfless, courageous, mindful, and loving he is. If there is anyone in this world that deserves a renewed chance at life, it is him.

We are forever grateful for any generosity you feel called to provide. Any help is help we truly can lean on. We appreciate you being open to hearing his story and letting him in your heart.

Love to each and everyone of you,

Michael, Nigel, Maryn, and Justin.