Help Jeff in getting his heart transplant

Hi, my name is Jean & I am raising funds for my friend Margie Trapane Brouse’s son, Jeff Breisch, & his family, of Berwick PA. Jeff is a husband & father of 3 boys, & step-father to his wife’s daughter. Jeff wouldn’t normally want to ask for help, but his long standing medical problems, plus having to go on disability, & the increased cost of living has become very hard for he & his family. Jeff lives with his wife, 2 sons, his step-daughter, & he & his wife’s “surprise” 3 year old son. Jeff has a debilitating muscle disease, a form of Muscular Dystrophy, named Becker’s disease. His twin brother Jeremy was diagnosed with the same disease in 1994. Jeremy, age 17 at the time, became very ill with bronchitis. He was transferred to Temple University Medical Center as he was becoming worse, & it was found that his heart (a muscle) had become weakened. At that time he was diagnosed with Becker’s disease, which caused the heart problem. A year later, Jeff was also diagnosed with Becker’s after having a blood clot & tests showing he had left ventricle damage. Subsequently, Jeff had to have a heart transplant when he was just 22. The surgery was a success.

Fast forward to August 2022, after Jeff experienced arm & chest pain, and admitted to Geisinger with a diagnosis of 3 heart artery blockages. After being transferred to Hershey Medical Center, he was stabilized, had more tests, & discharged to home with additional medications. He could not be evaluated for a heart transplant then due to his recent .Covid that July. On Nov 7, 2022, Jeff had 3 cardiac stents placed after the cardiologist team at Hershey decided stents could be done to help with the blood flow to his heart while waiting to be evaluated, & put on the transplant list if necessary.

Jeff’s strength in his arms & legs have become increasingly weaker over the years, but, Jeff continued to work until July 2022, when he was granted medical disability. He uses a cane to walk, but, still falls. Jeff 's oldest son, step-daughter & wife all work. His wife, though, had to quit her job last year to stay home & take care of their toddler, as Jeff had been doing the child care after he went on disability. He just could not physically continue to do so anymore. Then they had added expenses for car repair bills twice in 4 months. Money is also tight since the cost of living has risen in the last few years. Other family members have helped as much as they can. Jeff had stated they aren’t ones to beg, but, it has gotten harder for he & his family financially. Also, he encourages all to be organ donors, as his transplant gave him 21+ years of life.

UPDATE 8/22/24: Jeff needs his transplant sooner than later! He received a letter this week from Thomas Jefferson Medical Center stating he was put on the inactive transplant list due to lack of enough insurance coverage. A heart transplant median cost is one million dollars, & Medicare pays 80%, which would leave out of pocket cost at $200K. At this time, Jeff is searching for a supplement insurance, but the cost of one would be close to $200 a month, even if any would insure him due to his pre-existing condition.