We are reaching out to you today to share the story of our mother, Julie Griffin. To those who know her, she is a devoted mother, a loving grandmother, and the glue of our family. She has spent her life taking care of everyone else including the countless students she has helped over many years of work, and now, as she faces an uphill battle and could use a little support herself.

For the past four years, our Mom has been quietly and bravely battling Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)—a progressive disease that causes irreversible scarring of the lungs. What started as simple shortness of breath has turned into a daily struggle to perform even the smallest tasks. Today, she relies on supplemental oxygen 24/7 just to move around her home.

Despite the treatments and her incredible resilience, her lung function has declined to the point where a double lung transplant was her only remaining option for survival.

On January 9th, we were given the news that our mom was being placed on the donor transplant list, with no timetable on when the opportunity for new lungs might arise. However, just this week, we received word that she was selected to receive a double lung transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN where she was able to successfully complete the operation on April 14th, 2026. While this is the miracle we’ve been praying for, it comes with a mountain of challenges.

The cost of a transplant goes far beyond the surgery itself. As our family prepares for the long road to recovery ahead, our parents are facing overwhelming expenses and the challenges that come with that, including:

We want more years of laughter, more family dinners, and more moments where our Mom can breathe freely without the daily struggles that Pulmonary Fibrosis presents. Any contribution—no matter the size—will go directly toward the medical and temporary relocation expenses our parents are encountering on this journey.

If you aren't able to donate, your support, prayers and thoughts mean the world to us and we greatly appreciate them.

Please consider sharing this link with your network, especially if you are someone who has had the amazing opportunity to know our mother. We greatly appreciate all of your prayers, positive energy, and support.

Thank you for loving our mom and helping us fight for more time together.

With gratitude,

Kyle and Justin Griffin