Our Story

My name is Pat and I lived for 8 years with a failing heart and was close to death. My condition had deteriorated so rapidly I was flown via life-flight from NM, losing my home and family business instantly. On Dec 21, 2005 God blessed me with a very generous quiet angel, the amazing skilled physicians at UMC, and a new heart. Life after transplant is rewarding and appreciative. Along with this new life comes a costly life-long maintenance regimen that is a financial burden. With the issues faced by pre-transplant patients and post-transplant recipients, there should not be the added stress of worrying if there are enough resources to sustain life when unforeseen circumstances arise. I am alive today because of the generous act of another. My promise to my anonymous donor is to pay his act forward and help others. Unity for Life is how I can make that happen.

My name is Debbie and I am a double lung transplant recipient. Diagnosed in 2000 with COPD and listed in 2006, I lived with my disease for 8 years commuting to UMC Tucson for treatment. As my illness progressed my husband and I were forced to relocate closer to UMC. This left us with a mortgage as well as the additional costs for housing in Tucson. No one can predict a catastrophic illness. I took care of my family, worked for many years, had health insurance, a savings plan, and a 401K. I thought I was prepared and protected in life. I was blessed with a transplant. The cost of my gift was my home and self-dignity. I never thought I would be forced into making the decision “medication or house payment”. That should never be an option for anyone. My life is full now and I’m paying it forward in hopes of lessening the financial burden for others through Unity For Life Tucson.