Douglas Dillner

Douglas Dillner

Transplant Type: Double Lung

Update: Douglas received a transplant on October 9, 2018!

Douglas Dillner is fighting for his life. Despite never having smoked in his life, he was diagnosed with airway fibrosis interstitial pneumonia in January 2018, which has caused severe scarring of the airways going to his lungs. The condition leaves him gasping for air, and he is on 6 to 8 liters of oxygen each day. Due to this rare condition that causes only 1% of lung transplants, now doctors say a double lung transplant is critical to his survival. 

Douglas is no stranger to medical issues. He was born with a heart defect that caused him to endure 2 heart surgeries during his first year of life. When he was 4, he had a nerve-damaging case of chickenpox, which left him with 30-40% hearing loss. Additionally, Douglas was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in 2013, which has left him legally blind. Even though he has faced all these challenges, Douglas refuses to let them define him. His faith in God gives him strength, and he knows his upcoming transplant will help him grow in faith and gratitude. 

During this difficult time, Douglas is thankful for the love and support of his amazing network of family and friends, especially his wife, Heather. She is Douglas’s “seeing eye wife” and makes sure his basic needs are met. When he feels able, he enjoys listening to audiobooks, being with friends and family, traveling, and going to the zoo and aquariums. Douglas wants nothing more than to have a transplant that gives him back some of his mobility and independence and allows him to breathe once more. But, right now, he needs your help.

The average double lung transplant costs more than $1.19 million, and that’s only the beginning. Even with insurance, which will cover a portion of the transplant costs, Douglas still faces significant expenses related to the surgery. For the rest of his life, he will need follow-up care and anti-rejection medications. Post-transplant medications are very expensive, and they’re as critical to his survival as the transplant itself.

When Douglas receives his life-saving transplant, he will have to relocate over 160 miles to be near the hospital while he recovers for at least 3 months, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food, and lodging. Also, due to being legally blind, as well as being tied to an oxygen tank, Douglas is on disability, adding to the financial strain.

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to NFT in honor of Douglas. If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT Kansas Transplant Fund, 3249 W. Sarazens Circle, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38125. Please be sure to write "in honor of Douglas Dillner” on the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: Integris Baptist Hospital