Sharon Gail Bilby
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
National Foundation for Transplants, Inc.$6,000
raised by 2 people
$25,000 goal
Sharon Bilby
Transplant Type - Heart
In 2012, a virus attacked and damaged Sharon's heart, which led to the implantation of a defibrillator and, by 2014, a Left Ventricle Arterial Device (LVAD). Now doctors say a heart transplant is essential to her survival. She will soon complete evaluations to be added to the transplant waiting list.
As Sharon has faced difficult days, one of the hardest things she faced was giving a job she loved dearly—teaching 1st graders at a local elementary school. She and her husband, Gerald, have two children and a young grandson, who means the world to her. She’s so thankful for the love and support of her wonderful family, and her youngest daughter even quit her job and moved back home to help take care of her.
After receiving her transplant, she looks forward to returning to the classroom with the same energy she once had, and she also dreams of traveling to the mountains, a beloved destination she must currently avoid because of the high altitudes. More than anything, Sharon wants to spend many more years with her loved ones and watch her little grandson grow up. But right now, she needs your help.
The average heart transplant costs nearly $1 million. And that’s only the beginning. Even with health coverage, 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, which are as critical to her survival as the transplant.
When she receives her transplant, Sharon must temporarily relocate more than 200 miles from her home to be near the hospital for up to three months during recovery, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food and lodging.
You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to NFT in honor of Sharon. If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT Oklahoma Transplant Fund, 3249 W Sarazen's Circle, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38125. Please be sure to write "in honor of Sharon Bilby" on the memo line.
Thank you for your generosity!
Patient Health Institute: Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute