Wayne Rawls Lung Transplant Fund

Hello Friends and Family,

I've been asked by so many family, friends, and colleagues on how they can help with the upcoming struggles Wayne and I (Wendy) are about to endure. With all of this happening so very fast, unexpected and in the mist of just losing my mother (Phyllis Elaine Parker), of course we were not prepared with the diagnosis Wayne received nor have we really had the time to process it. I decided to set up this GoFundMe account allowing all of the ones who have reached out and others that would like to assist us in this upcoming journey for his Lung Transplant.

For those of you who may not know, Wayne was diagnosed with complete lung failure on Oct 8th, 2021. He was started on an Immunosuppressive drug called CellCept which helps treat inflammatory disease & helps prevent organ rejection after transplant. We made our first trip to UAB for consult on Oct 1st and on that day were given the go ahead from the Transplant Director/MD for the evaluation process, which is the next step. We leave in just a few days, Oct 24th and will stay until Oct 30th for rigorous and complete testing. We come home after that and then travel back the following week for results and to find out our next steps. We were given an estimate of 1-3 months for a new set of lungs, but we are looking at about 6 months, at least, because after the procedure he has to do his recovery/rehab/PT there on site at UAB and his caregiver (which will be me) has to be present for all of this the entire stay.

So, we are looking at a lengthy and expensive process going forward and having to relocate to UAB when the time comes. We are very blessed to have medical insurance, but as you all know we will still be responsible for our part and it surely will not cover any food, travel and accommodations expenses. This is what we will be using these funds that are donated for. We have both been unable to return to work since we received this devastating news in order to put a plan in place and have no idea at this point when either of us will be able to return. We appreciate all your calls, text, compassion, concern and mostly your prayers and please continue to do so.

Thank you,

Wendy Rawls