Support Lisa's Urgent Heart Transplant Journey

My name is Rich LaMonte. I am a close friend of Lisa O'Reily who is reaching out to the community and the world for help. She is in dire need of a heart transplant. Lisa is a kind, loving, sweet woman with a kind loving husband (also named Rich). She has children that love her and a community full of friends that all enjoy the love of jeeps with her. Myself included. I am writing this to ask anyone with the ability to assist to donate and help this amazing person and her family get through this difficult/ financially draining situation. As I'm sure you all can guess, without this surgery, Lisa will certainly not survive.

Proceeds will help her and her family with pre and post operation costs including temporary relocation near the transplant hospital, post transplant care and medications. These medications will be needed for the rest of her life. Living is very difficult financially post transplant. (I am 15 months post double lung transplant). I can confirm it is difficult and very financially straining. Please help this woman and her family. Every little bit counts!!!

Here are some words from Lisa herself.

"My name is Lisa O’Reilly and I’m reaching out for funding assistance to aid in offsetting the unexpected expenses that come along with pre-surgical treatment, surgery, and post-surgical care and recovery related to the cardiac transplant that is in my near future.

I have had an extensive cardiac history that began with the sudden passing of my beloved sister, at the age of 31, due to an unexpected cardiac event. I was subsequently diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia and cardiomyopathy that has been treated and monitored with a defibrillator and medication management. Over the years, my condition declined, and heart failure was added to my treatment needs. This has all been disconcerting, but overall I have felt great, and I have gone about my life to the fullest extent in every moment.

It came to a head in February 2024, when I collapsed and was saved with CPR by the amazing nurses and aides I work with – yes it does work! I was treated and monitored in the hospital for two weeks and subsequently notified that a heart transplant is the next step. After an extensive assessment at Columbia University in NYC, I received the devastating news that my antigen count is too high to safely get me through transplant. I followed up with an Immunologist at NYU Langone, for another extensive assessment, that resulted in a treatment plan involving a series of infusions to suppress the antibodies - and I have been assured by my doctors to make it to transplant!!!

The series of infusions take place in NYC, two days a week, for 11 weeks. This encompasses many unexpected expenses: gas, tolls, parking, food and motels. I was recently informed that I would need to continue the infusions for another cycle, followed by transplant surgery and months of recovery.

I have an extraordinary husband, Rich, who has been by my side with unwavering support since we met through our love of jeeps and wheeling in 2015 and married in 2022. In addition, I have been blessed with 4 wonderful children, 8 beautiful grandchildren, an incredible group of friends, a supportive group of coworkers and an amazing team of doctors.

At age 67, I feel blessed everyday with the life I have lived and for this extraordinary opportunity for it to continue, and I give thanks. All donations will be used thoughtfully and with deep gratitude. Thank you for this consideration – from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you and God Bless you all