March 2, 2017 - Michael Cranford, of Center and a Deacon at Blount Chapel Baptist Church, is fighting for his life. In January of 2016 he was diagnosed with lung disease. There is no family history of this illness. Doctors say a double-lung transplant is critical.
During such a challenging time, Michael is thankful to be surrounded by a strong support system of family and friends. He and his wife, Mattie, have a total of seven children, three of whom they adopted just three years ago. They also have ten precious grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who bring them so much joy. These days, he’s unable to participate in as many family activities as he would like and looks forward to the transplant that will allow him to be more active. Michael enjoyed working with his church, doing yard work and playing ball with his kids, before his health began to decline. More than anything, he just wants to be healthy enough to return to his normal activities and looks forward to taking a family vacation. But right now, he needs your help.
Unfortunately, Michael’s hope for a new life comes at a very high price. The average double-lung transplant costs more than $1 million. And that’s only the beginning. Even with health insurance, which will cover the cost of the transplant, 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.
When Michael receives his transplant, he must temporarily relocate 200 miles from home to be near the hospital during recovery, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food and lodging. Because of his health challenges, he can no longer work, adding to the financial strain.
You can help by visiting http://give.transplants.org/goto/michaelcranford to make a tax-deductible donation to NFT to help with his expenses.
If you have any questions about National Foundation for Transplants (NFT), feel free to contact the staff at 800-489-3863.
