Michael Wayne Church

Michael Wayne Church

Transplant Type: Double Lung  

Update: Michael received a transplant on December 31, 2018!            

Michael Church is fighting for his life. He is a 24 year retired Air Force veteran. In 2011, testing at the VA revealed that he has service-connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). By 2016, his lung function had declined to the point where he needed oxygen. Today, as Michael’s lungs continue to decline, Michael requires the assistance of an oxygen tank around the clock. Even so, the simplest tasks cause him difficulty and leave him short of breath. Doctors say a double-lung transplant is critical to his survival. 

During such a difficult time, Michael is thankful for the love and support of his wife, Cindy, and their family and friends. Michael has a son and a stepdaughter and just became a grandfather for the first time. He is no longer able to visit his family, and his loved ones worry about his health.

Michael looks forward to receiving a transplant that will allow him to breathe freely and be active with his family again. He used to be an avid fisherman, but he is no longer able to cast and reel or to walk distances to a fishing spot. Michael wants nothing more than to be healthy again so he can be free to have the time to visit family, to go fishing and camping, to breathe on his own! He is ready to put his health issues behind him so he can do simple day to day tasks without being out of breath. But right now, he needs your help.

The average double-lung transplant costs more than $1 million, and that’s only the beginning. Even with health insurance, which will cover a portion of the transplant costs, he faces significant expenses related to the surgery. For the rest of his life, he will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. Post-transplant medications are very expensive, and they’re as critical to his survival as the transplant itself. 

Michael lives nearly 200 miles from his transplant center and must travel back and forth for evaluations. When he receives a transplant, he will have to temporarily relocate to be near the transplant center while he recovers, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food, and lodging. 

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

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: Vanderbilt