However he still has to go to Duke Hospital and takes medications on daliy. To donate visit NFT @ htt://patients.transplants.org/allensharpe Allen Sharpe is fighting for his life. He has experienced lung problems since 1982, when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Allen took medications for 18 months before he was fully cured. In 1995, he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the same disease that took his father’s life in 1986. When he came down with pneumonia in 2002, he was forced to start using an oxygen tank to help him breathe. Doctors have told Allen a lung transplant is critical to his survival. Allen and his wife, Linda, have three children, eight grandchildren and one more on the way. His illness prevents him from playing with his grandchildren the way he used to, and he hates not being able to work to provide for his family. He also misses playing guitar and singing in local churches. This outdoorsman loves to golf, camp and hike and looks forward to the lifesaving transplant that will allow him to enjoy his favorite activities once again. More than anything, he wants to have a better quality of life and spend many more years with Linda, watching their grandchildren grow up. But he needs your help. Unfortunately, Allen’s hope for a new life comes at a very high price. A lung transplant costs approximately $450,000. And that’s only the beginning. Even with insurance, Allen faces significant medical expenses related to his transplant. For the rest of his life, he will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month—and they are as critical to his survival as the transplant itself. Allen must temporarily relocate 250 miles from his home to be near the transplant center to undergo pulmonary rehab to prepare his body for the transplant, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food and lodging. After receiving his transplant, he must stay near the hospital for follow-up care during the recovery process. Allen loved his job with John Deere, but his declining health forced him to stop working, adding to his financial strain. What if your life depended on the compassion and generosity of others? The National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) is working with volunteers and supporters to help relieve the growing burden of expenses for Allen and his family. NFT has been assisting transplant patients with advocacy and fundraising support for 27 years. Your gift—of $25, $50, $100 or more—will enable NFT to provide Allen with the financial support he desperately needs. You can help in the following ways:
• Send a tax-deductible donation in the self-addressed envelope using the enclosed donation form, via check or credit card. Please make your check payable to NFT North Carolina Lung Fund. Remember to write “in honor of Allen Sharpe” on the memo line.
• Visit www.transplants.org to make a secure online donation. Click on Patients We Help and search for Allen Sharpe. If you have any questions about NFT, feel free to contact the NFT staff at 800-489-3863. Many Thanks!
