Randy Cooke

This is a letter no-one ever envisions creating. Randy Cooke is 46 years young, has been married to Marleen for 24 years, and is the father of two wonderful children, Brandi and Ryan. Randy is a lifelong resident of Chatham, Illinois, has worked for Dominion Resources for 19 years, is an avid hunter, fisherman and boater and is fortunate to have many wonderful friends with which to enjoy these hobbies. Randy has many ties to the community, as he is a member of IBEW Local 15, President of Sangchris Waterfowlers Association, member of the Elks Lodge 158, the Blue Ridge Club, TRN Club, Sugar Creek United Methodist Church and a former member of the Chatham Volunteer Fire Department. Having raised his family, Randy was looking forward to the next phase of his life, traveling with friends and family, hunting and fishing, boating on Lake Springfield, saving for retirement, having time to just enjoy the “good life”. But, life has a way of throwing you a curve ball when you least expect it. Randy needs a lung transplant. On December 24, 2008, Randy was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF). PF is a debilitating, ultimately fatal disease marked by progressive scarring of the lungs, which gradually interferes with a person’s ability to breathe. The lung scarring that occurs in PF can’t be reversed, and no current treatment has proved effective in halting the progression of the disease or improving the quality of life, with an average duration from diagnosis to death of 2 to 4 years. For the PF patient, managing symptoms of respiratory distress can make even the simplest activities of daily living a challenge. Not only does it gradually rob you of your ability to breathe, but also low oxygen levels in your bloodstream leave you feeling weak, tired and uncomfortable, and compromises your quality of life. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that this disease has attacked the Cooke family. Randy’s mother, Carol, lost her long battle with PF in February 2007.

For Randy, a lung transplant is the only option to improve the quality and quantity of his life. In February 2009, Randy was evaluated at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri and was deemed an excellent candidate for lung transplantation. Currently, Randy is no longer able to work and is on oxygen 24/7. While waiting for a donor, Randy continues his daily medication regimen, pulmonary rehabilitation and oxygen therapy. Because of the extraordinary expense of transplantation, funding this life-saving operation is a monumental task. Even with medical insurance, there are numerous uncovered expenses such as healthcare deductibles, co-payments, immunosuppressant medication, travel and relocation housing. After transplantation, it will be necessary for Randy and Marleen to live in St. Louis for a minimum of three months while he is healing. Randy will then need to be on anti-rejection medication his entire life, and will require constant supervision by the transplant team. Barnes-Jewish hospital has advised that the out-of-pocket expenses related to relocation for transplant patients is $25,000.00. This presents a challenge that the Cooke family cannot meet alone. Fundraising is thus essential to the overall success of Randy’s struggle. This is where your help is needed.

To help offset Randy’s financial needs, friends and family have set up a fund at United Community Bank (217/483-2491). Donations can be made at any branch of United Community Bank to the “Randy Cooke Benefit Fund” or by contacting Kelly Beck at (217/741-8629). A benefit is planned for Sunday, June 28, 2009 at the Blue Ridge Club, Springfield, Illinois. For silent auction donations or raffle donations, please contact Tara Dillon (217/836-5617). It is never easy to ask for help and now is certainly no exception. Randy has touched the lives of many and we deeply appreciate the support he has received. At times like this, the assistance of family, friends and the community is crucial to help ensure a positive outcome. On behalf of the Cooke family, thank you for your prayers, generosity and support.

Friends of Randy Cooke