Lung Transplant for Jesse Richard Pace Jr.

Hi. I want to introduce you to my younger brother, Jesse “Richard” Pace, Jr. I grew up calling him Richard, but some may know him as Jesse. He and I grew up in a little town called Fackler, Alabama. We have always been close and have shared many things over the years. Growing up, we both had our tonsils removed concurrently, measles and chicken pox simultaneously, etc. The one thing I remember about my brother during those times is that he was a fighter. While I lay in the bed wanting to be left alone, he was up playing with his hot wheel cars and racetracks. Nothing kept him down. Fast forward several years, and he is still pushing through and fighting.

In 2017, my brother was diagnosed with a lung disease called “Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.” This disease causes the lungs to stiffen and scar. Richard’s disease is progressing rapidly now. Without a lung transplant, he will have to be placed on a ventilator in the next few months. From the beginning of this year, doctors have had to double his oxygen usage. Even with this diagnosis, he is still fighting. He is still mowing his yard, cleaning the house, buying groceries, and doing whatever he can to lighten the load on his loving wife, who works hard to support them. He cleaned up his lifestyle – quit smoking, lost weight, attended lung rehabilitation therapy, etc. He is doing all he can to live. The strain on the lungs is putting pressure on the heart. He needs both lungs replaced and bypass surgery. The doctors at Duke University have faith that they can save my brother’s life.

Here is where you come in – we need to raise $15,000 to cover living and medical expenses before Duke University will commit to the surgery. Richard and Pam, his wife, will be required to relocate. Pam will have to take a leave of absence from her job to be his caregiver during the healing process. They do not own any property or assets that can be sold to get this money, so we ask friends, family, and strangers who care to help us. Our family will forever be grateful and will keep you posted on his journey. Thank you in advance for your prayers and any amount you can afford.