Help Natalie Brown Breathe Again: Support Her Transplant

Hi everyone,

I am beyond excited to share some incredible news about my dear childhood best friend, Natalie Brown. After a courageous four-year battle with lung cancer, Natalie has been officially approved for a double lung transplant through the Northwestern Medical DREAM program! This life-changing procedure is expected to happen before the Thanksgiving holiday, giving Natalie the gift of new lungs and a new lease on life! Her loving husband and a host family are friends are standing together believing in this holiday miracle!

For those who may not know Natalie’s journey, she was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 33, despite never having smoked a day in her life. Throughout it all, she has been an unstoppable force, advocating for lung cancer awareness and supporting others affected by this devastating disease. Natalie’s message has always been clear: Lung cancer can happen to anyone, and it’s vital to get screened early, regardless of age or smoking history.

One of the most inspiring moments during her journey was when Natalie, alongside former Atlanta Falcon Chris Draft, presented an awareness ribbon to a fellow cancer survivor. Their partnership with The White Ribbon Project works to break the stigma surrounding lung cancer, making sure survivors get the care and recognition they deserve. Thank you, Natalie, for shining your light even in the darkest times!

While we are so grateful for this incredible opportunity, the reality is that the road ahead comes with significant medical costs. Although insurance will cover part of it, there are still many out-of-pocket expenses like pre- and post-operative care, medications, and living costs as Natalie focuses on her recovery. Natalie is required to stay in Chicago, IL for at least one year after her surgery to ensure she receives the highest quality post-operative care from the renowned team at Northwestern Medical. During this time, she will have full-time caretakers, with family and close friends traveling to Chicago to provide consistent support and ensuring she has the best caregiver coverage throughout her recovery.

That’s where we’re asking for your help. We’ve set a goal to raise $50,000 to support Natalie through this next chapter in her journey. Every donation, big or small, will go directly toward helping her get the care she needs and relieving some of the financial burden so she can focus on healing and breathing easy once again.

How You Can Help:

Donate – Any amount you can give will make a huge impact!

Share – Please share this page with your family and friends to help spread the word.

Let’s rally around Natalie as she prepares for this life-changing transplant and show her just how much love and support she has in her corner. Together, we can help Natalie breathe again and make sure she enters this next chapter of life stronger than ever!

With love and gratitude,

Tashieka Truitt

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