Help Me Access Life-Saving Out-of-State Care for a Rare Progressive Lung Disease

My name is Nicole, and I’ve been living with a rare, still-unnamed progressive lung disease since I was 18 years old. I’m now 27— meaning I’ve spent an almost full decade fighting for answers, stability, and the ability to breathe.

From 2017–2019, my lungs repeatedly collapsed — over and over again. During those years, I underwent extensive treatment throughout Arizona, from standard hospitals all the way up to Mayo Clinic in AZ. In total, I’ve endured:

***20+ chest tubes

***Multiple lung biopsies

***Thoracotomies

***Lobectomies

*** Wedge Resections and VATS procedures (chemical & mechanical pleurodesis)

The largest procedure was a “talc powder pleurodesis” bilaterally in both lungs with VATS at Mayo Clinic — a last-resort intervention meant to stop my lungs from collapsing. The only other route was dual lung transplants. They could still be needed in the future as I progress too!

It worked… but it was not a cure.

That procedure was a band-aid, not a solution. While I haven’t had another full lung collapse in the past six years, my lungs have continued to deteriorate internally.

Where I Am Now

Today, I live with COPD-like inflammation, increasing fatigue, chronic coughing, and being winded by basic daily activities. Over the past three months, my condition has significantly worsened — and my medical team here in Arizona is largely out of options.

My former cardiothoracic surgeon wants to proceed with another set of lung biopsies to rule out Valley Fever. However, because of the talc in my lungs, this comes with serious risks:

**Heavy bleeding

**New air leaks

**Potential lung collapses again non-stop

This is something I am understandably terrified of.

The other path forward — and the one that offers real hope — is advanced out-of-state care to investigate:

**Autoimmune dysfunction

**Genetic causes

**Advanced interstitial lung disease (ILD)

Treatments that may slow or stop progression, rather than just reacting to emergencies

Why I Need to Leave Arizona

I have exhausted nearly every option in Arizona (with the exception of U of A Tucson). The next level of care I desperately need exists outside my home state at highly specialized lung disease centers, including:

Vanderbilt (Tennessee)

National Jewish Health (Denver, CO)

Cedars-Sinai (Los Angeles, CA)

UT Southwestern (Texas)

UF Health Shands (Gainesville, FL)

Stanford Health (CA)

UCSF (San Francisco)

Unfortunately, I am on Arizona Medicaid, which does not cover non-emergency out-of-state care. This means consultations, testing, imaging, lodging, transportation, and medications must be paid out of pocket.

What the $58,800 Will Be Used For

Every dollar raised will go directly toward survival-based medical care, including:

**Specialist consultations & testing

**Imaging and lab work

**Medications not covered by insurance

**Gas and long-distance travel

**Lodging (hotels or short-term stays)

**Facility and provider fees

Supporting my family while they help care for me during multi-week stays

If needed, I may even rent or purchase a small used camper or travel van so my family and I can stay near medical facilities at a lower cost.

About Give A Hand

I chose Give A Hand because they do not take a percentage of donations like GoFundMe.
The only fees involved are standard payment processing fees (about 2.9% + $0.30 per donation), which donors can choose to cover. The platform runs on optional donor tips, meaning nearly all funds go directly to my care.

About Me & My Work

I do work part-time, but only 5–10 hours per week due to my health while filing for disability. My income barely covers basic bills — it is not enough to fund life-saving medical travel and care.

This fundraiser is not about luxury.
It’s about access to doctors who might finally help me survive.

How You Can Help

Donate if you’re able — truly, anything helps. If you are worried about donating to something like this you can also do my Venmo:

@NicoleKilroy143 

For the subject line in Venmo please put: “Medical Health Fundraising”. I will obviously need to claim some of this on taxes potentially but hopefully can write it off for the 2027 season.

Like, heart, comment, and share if you can’t donate

Help my story reach the specialists and support systems I need!!! News Stations too because maybe a doctor will see this and take me on or reach out to me!

You can follow my journey and learn more about my story:

YouTube: A Dash of Nicash

Instagram: @ChronicLife.Nikki

I am endlessly grateful to anyone who takes the time to read this, share it, or support me in any way. Your kindness brings me closer to answers — and to breathing a little easier.

Thank you from the bottom of my lungs and my heart 🤍