With costs for life saving surgery

Hello my name is Bobby and this fundraiser is for our dad, grandpa and husband Eddie DeLeon. First let me tell you about Eddie, you know that brother, uncle, cousin, or friend that you could always call if you were in trouble and needed help? No matter if it was the middle of the day or middle of the night, he was there! That’s Eddie, no matter what it was he would jump up quick for family and friends when in need. I remember calling him for all types of things from putting together furniture such as shelves, entertainment centers, to changing a flat tire on the side of the highway in a different city, no matter what it was he’d come. I really miss being able to call him for those things (tears really falling as I type this). I mention these things in past tense because today unfortunately he is not that strong, energetic, ready to go man that he once was. In 2009 due to a rare muscle disease he had to undergo a double lung transplant. The surgery was a blessing and things were going well up until 2012 when Eddie was hospitalized for complications and after a short hospital stay doctors eventually said there was nothing they could do and sent him home with no real expectation of him living much longer. Now here we are 10 years later though and he is still here and we give all praise and thanks to God for that! However over the last few years his condition has worsened. It has gotten to the point where simple everyday things that most of us take for granted like using the restroom, almost take his breath away completely! Being on full time oxygen for multiple years now has had many challenges for him but he has stayed positive and that fighting spirit that still lives on the inside of him is evident and has given him the will to fight despite his physical abilities being at an all time low. To see him now in his condition really saddens me as I think back on how he raised me and my two brothers as his own, he was always busy working or doing yard work, or playing softball which he loved so much! Never even close to being a lazy person, he always had such hardworking habits and since I’m being honest man I hated doing that yard work!

However there has been some good news recently that we’re really excited about. Doctors from the Cleveland Clinic contacted Eddie after receiving a referral for a possible second transplant. We are currently in the middle of several appointments for multiple tests that are needed to move the procedure forward, the only thing is that all testing as well as the second transplant all have to be done in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Eddie and his wife Grace live in Saginaw, Michigan and even though the majority of his medical costs are being covered by insurance, the travel and lodging expenses are not. The testing alone is gonna take multiple trips to Ohio and consist of multiple days. The surgery itself on the other hand would require him and a support team made up of at least 2-3 family members to actually live in the Cleveland area for a minimum of 3-4 months for recovery and close post-op observation by the surgical team. His next round of tests and stay in Cleveland begins on the 28th of November 2022. My mom Grace who has been by his side for better or worse through sickness and health has recently retired after 20 plus years with not a whole lot of retirement funds, in fact the house note and bills alone are still a struggle to make happen. From one point of having a two income household, to a one income household, down to SS and whatever other assistance is available to them, paying for travel, lodging/housing is gonna be a real challenge. We as a family will always be here to help in whatever ways we’re able to but when I say we wouldn’t be asking for help if it weren’t needed, I truly mean it. Whether family (who know first hand who and what Eddie has always meant to the family) or friends and even complete strangers, any amount that you can help us with would be greatly appreciated! Every penny raised will go directly to gas, hotel, rent and any other costs related to the traveling and stay in Cleveland, starting with the 4 day stay beginning on November 28th, 2022. If you could not only donate but also share this we as his family would really, really appreciate it, and I don’t only speak for myself, I’m speaking not only on behalf of all of his sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, and great grandchildren but on behalf of his wife Grace and of course Eddie himself! We all love him so much and there’s really not a price that we could put on any extra time that God grants him to be here with us all! Thank you so much and God bless you and your family!