On fast track to a transplant

Dear Friends,

After meeting with his team of doctors on the 17th of February, Walker and Candy were told the extremely sobering truth that after weeks of testing and evaluation the team came to the conclusion that if Walker did not have a double lung and kidney transplant that he would have about 18 months to live. 

And so it begins, the next phase of this medical trauma story, onward we march towards a live saving transfer of organs given by a soul on their way out to give life to a soul seeking to stay in the game of life. At least now we know our mission, it was hard living in the ‘in between’, unsure and unstable, so now Walker and his family can plant their feet steely eyed knowing what lies ahead. 

We have partnered with The National Foundation for Transplants out of Memphis, TN to help us navigate this hugely challenging part of this journey. Through their advise, Candy organized a team of volunteers of friends and family to manage a formal campaign for years to come that raises and manages funds designated for Walkers care. Below is text from the letter his family and the foundation wrote to kick off this campaign. Please consider forwarding the link to his campaign to your network. I will continue to use this blog to update our community about Walkers story just as I have for the last 2 years. You can download the journal entries since the beginning to read the whole story to date. We are thankful for all of you that follow this blog and keep Walker and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you and God bless you, Dave.

What if you were living on borrowed time?

Walker McKnight is fighting for his life. On March 8, 2019, he was sent to the emergency room experiencing symptoms of fever, difficulty breathing, nausea, and vomiting. He was admitted to the ICU later that day after a chest x-ray confirmed a bad case of pneumonia. After multiple tests over the next several days, this 19 yr. old athlete who was only 2 months into a promising cheer and volleyball career at FAU, was found to be suffering from several viruses including adenovirus, Epstein Barr, and strep A.  His condition worsened over the next five days and developed into a severe case of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). He was then emergently transferred from the Oviedo Medical Center to the ICU at ORMC where they did everything known to medicine before reluctantly intubating him late Saturday afternoon March 16th.  By early Sunday afternoon his lungs were collapsing and death was imminent.  In a last minute effort to save his young life, Walker was airlifted to Advent Health and placed on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO), the most extreme form of life support available. 

Walker spent four months in ICU care at Advent Health, including surviving a harrowing sixty-three days on VV ECMO. His will to live is tremendous. After four chest tubes, a tracheostomy, gall bladder removal, and kidney failure, Walker was able to be safely discharged home to his family. His official diagnosis is necrotizing pneumonia and kidney failure, though his parents learned he had been vaping for 3 months prior.  Doctors believe this put huge stress on his lungs and is an underlying factor in the severity of his condition. He remains on nightly dialysis treatments and lives with an oxygenator constantly.  

His Doctors say a double lung and kidney transplant are critical to his survival and told him on February 17, 2021 that he had 18 months to live if he does not get the transplants.

Even so, during this unbelievably challenging time, Walker is very thankful to God for such an amazing group of family and friends that has helped him and his family in countless ways already. He wishes they didn’t have to be so concerned about his health, but he is grateful for their love and support. Before his health turned critical, Walker was enjoying his first semester of college, hanging with new friends, loving the FAU Boca Raton campus, playing on the volleyball team, and prepping for his first cheerleading tryouts.   Walker looks forward to the transplant that will allow him to feel “normal” again.  He has his whole life ahead of him and plans to take advantage of all that it has to offer.

Fortunately, there is hope for a new life for Walker through lifesaving transplants that come at an extremely high price.

The average lung transplant costs approximately $929,000.  And that’s only the beginning.  Walker needs both lungs and one kidney transplanted.  Even with health insurance, which will cover a portion of the transplant costs, he faces significant expenses related to the surgery. For the rest of his life, he will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. Post-transplant medications are very expensive, and they’re as critical to his survival as the transplant itself. When he receives his transplant, Walker and his caregiver may need to stay near the hospital, during recovery, adding to the financial strain.

Right now, his life is dependent on the compassion and generosity of others.

The National Foundation for Transplants is working with volunteers and supporters to help relieve the growing burden of expenses for Walker. The National Foundation for Transplants has been assisting transplant patients with fundraising support for more than 35 years. Your gift—of $25, $100, $500 or more—will enable The National Foundation for Transplants to provide Walker with the financial support he desperately needs.

You can help by visiting http://charity.gofundme.com/nft-walkermcknight to make a tax-deductible donation to The National Foundation for Transplants to help with his expenses.  If you prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to:

 NFT Florida Transplant Fund 3249 W. Sarazen's Circle, Suite 100, Memphis TN 38125

If you have any questions about The National Foundation for Transplants, feel free to contact the staff at 800-489-3863