Our mom, Theresa, is a stubborn, loving, and incredibly generous

woman. She is the matriarch of our family — a mom to four children, a

grandma to a zillion grandchildren, and a second mom to even more

“found family.”

Over the past year, Theresa’s health and oxygen levels have declined

significantly. She is currently functioning on just 24% lung capacity

on her left side, and a lung transplant has become her only option for

survival.

Theresa is in the process of being approved for and receiving

treatment for a lung transplant at UW Medical Center. While insurance

is covering a significant portion of the medical expenses, we recently

learned from the transplant coordinator that there are substantial

additional costs that are not covered.

Following the transplant, Theresa and her husband Jeff are required to

live within close proximity to the hospital for three months during

recovery. In the Seattle area, this means housing costs of $3,000+ per

month, on top of their existing living expenses, ongoing medical care,

and the lifelong medications Theresa will need after the transplant.

Theresa and Jeff have the biggest hearts and have always gone out of

their way to help anyone in need. Facing these unexpected costs during

an already overwhelming and emotional time has added significant

stress to an already difficult journey.

Asking for help does not come easily to them. In fact, when we first

suggested a GoFundMe, there was a lot of hesitation. But ultimately,

they agreed — because this surgery is necessary for Theresa to

survive.

We understand that things are tight for many people right now (hello,

egg prices), but if you are able to donate, any amount would mean more

than we can express. If you’re not in a position to give, sharing this

page, sending a kind message, or keeping Theresa in your thoughts and

prayers is just as appreciated.

If a donor is not located or the transplant does not move forward as hoped, any funds raised will be used to support Theresa’s ongoing medical care, recovery needs, and related living expenses. If circumstances change significantly, we will provide updates and work with GoFundMe to ensure donor intentions are respected.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read

Theresa’s story. We will continue to update this page as she moves

forward in her transplant journey.