Transplant Type - Heart

We are thrilled to report that Leland received his lifesaving transplant in November 2009!

Leland was always a healthy, hardworking man. He and his wife owned a fleet of trucks and worked as drivers, delivering freight all over the United States. In 2005, they were on their way to Dallas to pick up a freight load when they were hit by a drunk driver. Leland received a direct impact. He was airlifted to the hospital, where he required surgery to repair a crushed arm, broken leg and lacerated liver. During surgery, Leland went into a coma and remained comatose for 16 days. His body filled with fluid, but the necessary tests weren't performed because of a lack of insurance.

Leland was released from the hospital, but has never completely recovered from the accident. He spent the next few years in and out of the hospital, and his poor health left him unable to work. By the time he was awarded disability, he and his family had lost everything--their home, business and vehicles. But Leland didn't give up. He finally got medical insurance that allowed him to receive all of the medical tests he needed. Leland was then diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Doctors said a heart transplant was his only hope for a second chance at life.

Leland is thankful for the strong support of his loved ones during his lengthy battle. Along with his family, he has high hopes for the future. He looks forward to spending more time with his wife and five children now that he has received his transplant. But first, he needs your help.

A heart transplant costs more than $750,000. And that's only the beginning. Even with medical coverage, Leland will face significant expenses. For the rest of his life, he will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month--and they are as critical to his survival as the transplant itself. Because the transplant will take place 240 miles from his home, he will incur substantial travel and temporary housing expenses as he goes through treatment and recovery.

Please help! Your gift to the NFT Florida Heart Fund will enable us to assist Leland with his transplant expenses. To make a secure online donation, please click on the link beneath Leland's photo. If you prefer to mail your gift, please send it to NFT Florida Heart Fund, 5350 Poplar Ave., Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Please be sure to write "in honor of Leland Scott" in the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami