Hey everyone, we are requesting support from anyone willing to help ease the financial burden from the shoulders of our sweet parents. We are also asking for prayers for daddy, mama, and the whole family as we navigate this. Some of you already know their situation, but to those who do not, please continue reading.
Our dad, Jr Hogue, has been courageously battling Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a devastating and progressive lung disease that causes permanent scarring of the lungs. What began as a routine wellness check in April 2025 quickly led to alarming test results — a chest CT showing severe pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. From that moment on, his life has been a whirlwind of doctors, testing, and rapid decline.
After being referred to a pulmonologist in Monroe, he was diagnosed with IPF and told that most patients with this condition have a 2–3 year prognosis. He was encouraged to start oxygen therapy and prepare for the possibility of a lung transplant at Baylor in Dallas. Despite not feeling ready at first, he eventually agreed, and the long process of specialist appointments and evaluations began.
By the time Dad made his first trip to Baylor in August 2025, he was at 40% lung capacity. He was told that a double lung transplant would eventually be necessary but wasn’t quite urgent yet. However, the months that followed brought a shocking decline. By December, his oxygen levels dropped into the 70s without supplemental oxygen, and he was placed on 8 liters per minute. He was also started on multiple medications, steroids, and antibiotics in hopes of slowing the progression.
In early 2026, things worsened quickly. During his January and February appointments in Dallas, he had to use a wheelchair just to get around the hospital. His oxygen needs increased to 12 liters per minute, then 15. Despite the challenges, he was still considered a possible candidate for a double lung transplant. He is now two months away from being able to be presented to the Transplant Slection Committee and officially listed.
On March 12th, during what was supposed to be another routine day of testing, doctors found that his lung function had dropped drastically again. His oxygen saturation falls into the 50s with even the smallest movement without oxygen. The Baylor team determined that sending him home on his old oxygen setup was unsafe, so he was admitted until stronger equipment could be arranged. He is now back home but *supposed to be, but we all know dad don't like sitting at home* mostly home‑bound and dependent on high‑flow oxygen to keep his organs from being damaged. If his oxygen levels stay too low causing damage to other organs, it could disqualify him from transplant eligibility.
Our parents have faced enormous physical, emotional, and financial stress. Dad now requires specialized oxygen equipment, a motorized wheelchair, constant monitoring, and frequent travel to Dallas — which will only increase once he is officially placed on the transplant list. After the transplant, he will need to live near the hospital for 2–3 months and take over 10 daily medications for the rest of his life.
We are starting this fundraiser to support Dad through every step of this fight — the medical travel, equipment, living expenses during transplant recovery, mama's lost wages, and all the costs that come with giving him the chance at more years with his family. We already know that the transplant will be at least $7,000 up front and the place to stay is $1,500 per month and that is just the start of those costs.
Every donation, share, message, and prayer helps more than we can ever express. Thank you for being part of his fight and for helping us give our dad the chance to keep breathing, keep fighting, and keep living.