Fundraiser to help Libby family with treatment
Chris Stanton said he is very susceptible to other illnesses because of cystic fibrosis. (Luke Hollister/The Western News)
Chris Stanton says due to cystic fibrosis, he cannot keep up with his son and that the disease only gets worse as he gets older. “It’s come to the point where my lungs basically can’t support the rest of me,” he said. (Luke Hollister/The Western News)
Chris Stanton, left, and his wife Amanda talk about the struggles of living with cystic fibrosis. Chris said “it’s come to the point where my lungs basically can’t support the rest of me.” (Luke Hollister/The Western News)
The Dome Theater will be holding a fundraiser movie showing to help a Libby family struggling to cover the medical expenses of cystic fibrosis treatment. The movie, Five Feet Apart, touches on challenges faced by people with the disease.
Chelsea Sanderson, organizer and owner of the Dome Theater, said all proceeds from the showing on Thursday at 7 p.m. will go to the Stanton family.
In order to save Chris Stanton’s life, he needs a double lung transplant, which is why the theater is trying to raise money, she said. If somebody is in need, helping them out is “what we do as a community.”
Chris Stanton, who is 40 years old, said his lung disease only gets worse as he gets older.
“It’s come to the point where my lungs basically can’t support the rest of me,” he said. Adding, a lung transplant is necessary.
At the moment, Chris said he is OK and not in a lot of pain. But, because he has cystic fibrosis, the disease makes him very susceptible to other illnesses.
“If somebody has it, I catch it,” he said.
He is supposed to always be on oxygen, but Chris gets embarrassed about carrying around an oxygen tank for his age.
“I have to wear it to keep up,” said Chris.
Getting a lung transplant would enable Chris to be more active around his son, Jacob Stanton. Keeping up is hard, said Chris.
Amanda Stanton, wife to Chris, said the average cost of a double lung transplant is $100,000, and the cost of drugs for the first year is close to $1 million. Insurance will help cover part of those expenses, but they will not cover travel, lodging, food and other various costs that come with having to get a lung transplant.
Amanda encouraged people to stop by the fundraiser and “spread a little bit of cystic fibrosis awareness.”
The disease is 100 percent fatal. “Nobody’s going to outlive it,” she said.
Donations can also be made at cota.org/campaigns/cotaforteamchriss.