Charlie's Fund

On March 13, 2019, Charlie Williams, husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, died following complications resulting from a lung transplant.

On February 14, 2018, Charlie was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.  On February 15, 2019 he received a single lung transplant.

Our family knows this disease all too well. This is the second member of our family to be diagnosed with IPF.  Our brother Phil also had IPF and had a lung transplant on March 4, 2014. In 2015, about 18 months post transplant  - just when he was beginning to live his life again - he was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away in September 2015.

Phil, Dennis and Charlie 

IPF is a progressive disease that has no known cause and for which there is no cure.  However, in our family, there is a question now as to whether there is a genetic link. The average life expectancy of someone with IPF is 3-5 years.  While new medications are helping to slow down the progression, the only proven treatment is a lung transplant.  

And lung transplants are expensive. As of 2017, the average cost was $861,700 for a single lung transplant. Following a transplant many things can happen including infection and rejection. 

We know this from experience.  One does not just get a new lung and begin to live a normal life. As mentioned before, it was 18 months before we all felt that Phil was free to be Phil again. And that 18 months was rough - multiple infections and trips back to the hospital. Every time a new problem - even a cold - popped up, the thought of rejection tagged along.  He had excellent medical care as does Charlie but vital organ transplants come with extremely high risk.  Charlie never had the opportunity to be free of any of this. We do not yet know the true cause of his death, but we know that it was this tragic disease that was at the core of everything.

Kyle, Charlie and Tyler

We are grateful that insurance will cover most of the cost of Charlie's multiple hospital stays but we don't know yet what the out of pocket cost will be.  So we set up this fund now so that  his wife, Kerry, will not have to worry about the OOP costs we all know will be there.  

Since they don't know what the OOP costs will be, Charlie's family (his wife Kerry and their sons, Kyle and Tyler) would like any money received that is not needed for Charlie's medical bills to go to breathlessipf.com , an organization started by Bernie Williams, New York Yankees legend and musician who lost his father to IPF. 

So, by donating to Charlie's Fund, you will help eliminate the financial worry and allow our family to begin to heal, and in addition, help others who are diagnosed with this tragic disease.

Charlie and Kerry

Along with your financial gift we ask only one other thing: Every time you think of Charlie or a member of our family, please send some love our way.  We have proven over the years that positive, peaceful thoughts and prayers make a tremendous difference in the healing process.

Thank you to those that have already donated and thank you to those that are able to help now. Your donation will make a difference.

Diane and Dennis on behalf of Charlie, Kerry, Kyle and Tyler

For more information:
https://www.lungsandyou.com/
https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/