Robin Frankel

Robin Mulcahy Frankel

Transplant Type: Double Lung

Update: Robin received a transplant on October 6, 2019!

Robin Frankel is awaiting a new lease on life. In 2018, she was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, although she showed symptoms for several years prior to her diagnosis. Robin requires the assistance of supplemental oxygen to help her breathe and doctors say a double-lung transplant is critical to her survival.

During such a difficult time, Robin is thankful for the love and support of her husband of 33 years, Jay, and their family and friends. Robin and Jay have three grown children and one grandchild, and her illness prevents her from being the active wife, mother, and grandmother she longs to be. Robin looks forward to receiving a transplant that will allow her to be free from supplemental oxygen and improve her quality of life. 

She enjoys trips to the beach, going for walks, visiting her children, and being very active—but her health prevents these activities now. She wants nothing more than to be healthy again so she can resume her life, visit her kids, and take her granddaughter to Disney. But right now, she 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, she faces significant expenses related to the surgery. For the rest of her life, she will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. Post-transplant medications are very expensive, and they’re as critical to her survival as the transplant itself.

Robin lives 220 miles away from her transplant center and traveling back and forth for appointments is expensive. When she receives her transplant, she will have to temporarily relocate to be nearby while she recovers, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food, and lodging.Robin prefers to give back to her community rather than ask for help, but she needs support now. 

As a mental health counselor she spent her days helping teachers and teens despite her worsening health. When the tragic school shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, she volunteered her time to provide therapy for survivors. Now she has had to stop working entirely in preparation for her transplant, further adding to her family's financial challenges. Even if she can no longer work, Robin feels that she still has more to give, and it is her goal to volunteer and continue to help others any way she can.

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

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: Advent Health