Help the Lucas Family with Medical Airlift Costs

As most everyone knows, our dad, Frank Lucas, had a month-long battle with Covid that started on Christmas. Wanting to be with family again after settling into their retirement home in Florida in August, and after taking every precaution including being vaccinated, Mom and Dad ventured travel to Pennsylvania to spend the holidays with children and grandchildren. Dad tested positive for covid on the 26th of December. Dad's discharge instructions from the urgent care facility included a prescription for monoclonal antibody therapy from the local hospitals. After being told by the first 3 area hospitals that this treatment wasn't available, the 4th hospital informed us that the FDA pulled this treatment on December 23rd. Disappointed, we realized that not only was this hopeful option out of reach, the newly approved medication from the FDA was unattainable and no other option was available for us. The first several days, he seemed to handle the virus fairly well. But on the 4th day of the illness, his oxygen saturations started to decrease and become worrisome. On the 5th day, he became disoriented and struggled to keep his oxygen saturations above 90%, so we took him to the hospital for oxygen support and steroids to decrease his lung inflammation. The Emergency Department confirmed our fears: Dad had covid pneumonia. Dad’s condition digressed from the covid ward to the ICU, as his oxygen levels continued to decline, and he was placed on a ventilator. Our days were consumed with research and consultation all around the country to find the best solution for Dad. Unfortunately, the medical care given appeared to be reactive medicine and not proactive medicine. After specialist consultations with a pulmonologist in New York, we decided that we needed to transfer Dad to a different hospital in order to reverse/address the critical issues that kept arising. Due to the distance, it was recommended that we fly him between hospitals to lessen the stress on Dad’s body. We realized that this constituted drastic measures, but we so wanted to do the best for Dad and bring him home with us to celebrate more holidays. During times of crisis like this, you ignore the cost and do what is necessary for the ones you love. Unfortunately, all our prayers and efforts did not stave of the consequences of this evil virus. Dad passed away on January 25, 2022, exactly 1 month after he was diagnosed with covid.

Left in the aftermath of his passing, we find ourselves devastated beyond words, heartbroken and grieving. But in the midst of our grief, we have been so blessed by the love, support, and prayers from all of our friends and family. To say that we wouldn’t have made it through this without all of you is an understatement. Many of you have asked about ways that you could practically help us through this. With humble hearts, we ask that you would consider contributing to our fund to help us pay for the cost of Dad’s medical airlift.