Non-Profit Creates Fund to Aid Rare Disease Patients with Unmet Needs

BELOIT, Wis., Oct.19, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Team PHenomenal Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting people diagnosed with a rare condition known as pulmonary hypertension (PH), is extending a hand to those living with this disease, in a way that has never been done before by a PH nonprofit, through the creation of the Team PH Unmet Needs Patient Impact Fund.

In the wake of the financial insecurity surrounding healthcare, and the decision of the Caring Voice Coalition, a nonprofit outreach organization, to end their financial assistance fund, PH patients nation-wide have been left in a whirlwind of hopelessness and confusion.

In order to combat this problem and give patients back the ability to focus on their health, Team PH created the Unmet Needs Patient Impact Fund. Any PH patient is able to apply to this fund to receive a $500 micro-grant for non-medication, immediate needs related to their disease. Some of these might include travel and lodging to see their PH specialist, emergency repairs to their home, or simply the purchase of groceries.

PH is a rare disease that causes high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, putting unnecessary stress on the heart and lungs. Treatment often times comes with harsh side effects, leaving the recipient with other health concerns. There is currently no cure, and it can eventually be fatal.

This fund originally was created In the fall of 2017 when Hurricane's Harvey, Irma, and Maria wreaked havoc in the Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico areas. As many were able to rebuild shortly after the storms, recovery was more difficult for those who have PH.

Team PH founder and pulmonologist Dr. Patricia George is elated to offer support to patients suffering from this isolating disease. "We are living in a time of uncertainty in the world of healthcare, and people who have PH are obligated to deal with that on top of their debilitating disease. The Team PH Unmet Needs Patient Impact allows us to lend a helping hand to these folks, and alleviate some of the stress that comes with being diagnosed with a chronic disease."

Joe, an Unmet Needs Fund recipient from Mountain Home, Arkansas shared, "While I was told time and time again of the symptoms that can occur with PH, no one told me the emotional tangle I would find myself in. First came the oxygen, next was the constant reminders of when to take my medicine, and now, I have a pump that will stick with me for life. One by one, I saw my independence diminishing. When there was a realization that I could no longer work, funds became scares along with my pride. Thanks to Team PHenomenal Hope, I am able to treat myself to the self-care I've been neglecting. Thank you Team PHenomenal Hope!"

Team PHenomenal Hope is a nonprofit organization based in Beloit, Wisconsin. As a charity, Team PH seeks to raise awareness of PH, to fund medical research, and to implement programming that focuses on helping patients, including removing patients from isolation, building community, and providing hope.

To learn more about the Team PH Unmet Needs Patient Impact Fund and the patients it has positively impacted, or to make a donation, please visit https://www.teamphenomenalhope.org/programs/unmet-needs-patient-impact-fund. For more information about Team PH, visit http://teamphenomenalhope.org/.

SOURCE Team PHenomenal Hope