Give Back to Dave Brown - A Lifesaving Gesture

Our friend and plumber Dave Brown has terminal interstitial lung disease. It was likely caused by exposure to asbestos and fungal and bacterial organisms he encountered while plying his trade. Other than doctors' appointments, he is homebound; something as mundane as a common cold could be fatal. His breathing is labored and just walking from room to room leaves him gasping for breath, even with his supplemental oxygen supply.

Dave is undergoing rigorous testing at Kaiser to prepare him for a lung transplant at UCSF. It can be tedious, painful, and exhausting. There are many transplant eligibility requirements including having enough money to stay near the hospital in San Francisco for at least 6 weeks following the surgery. Dave is madly selling many of his antiques, as his income doesn’t even cover his living expenses. Not having enough money is stressful and in Dave’s case, unhealthy.

We first met Dave when we had a plumbing problem. He answered our call for help many times in the past 30 years. I’m sure many of you, too, found him to be knowledgeable and compassionate.

It could be said that Dave is generous to a fault. Yesterday, while I visited with him, we discussed his finances. Dave said, “If someone had a problem I could fix, I just did it. If they couldn’t pay me, so be it. If someone needs something, you just do it.” He takes the concept of charity to a whole new level.

Please make a donation so that Dave will be eligible for a transplant. It’s truly his only hope.

Thank you.