Sycamore Exotics
            &

Swaying Sycamore
          Farm

Dear Family, Friends & Generous Donors,

Many of you may know our family from our children, Isaac & Megan Fruits’ school years, 13 years with 4-H, showing llamas and/or the pet stores in town. Our entire lives have revolved around our family and our animals. We have had a very small farm in Crawfordsville and then in Waynetown for more than 20 years. We have raised a wide variety of animals over that time. We have had petting zoos in our area as well.  

Matt and I were born and raised in Central Indiana. We met as teenagers while working together at a pet store. His Grandpa Fruits grew up in Montgomery County. We moved here in 1999. We are related to all of the Fruits families around her, but unfortunately, we only really know a few of them.

Around 2011, Matt started having serious trouble breathing and would cough for hours after coming in from our pigeon coop. He had grown up with hundreds, maybe thousands of pigeons. His dad raced homers. Matt nearly died twice before doctors determined his severe allergic reaction was caused by pigeon dander.

Over time, Matt developed Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis in his left lung. In the last year, it has advanced and is now starting to grow in his right lung. He has to have a double lung transplant soon. Other than his lungs, Matt is pretty healthy. He has passed all of this pre-transplant testing. Without a transplant, his other organs will start failing too. His doctors say it has to be done in 12 to 18 months or he won’t survive. Matt just turned 52 and is considered young. He was required to lose a large amount of weight to be listed. He has lost 120 lbs and only has 23 more to lose. I’m sure he has lost more by the time you read this. He will get it done by his July 1st recheck appointment.             

Unfortunately, weight is not the only thing preventing Matt from receiving the lifesaving operation. The IU Methodist Transplant Team requires us to have at least $8,000 in savings for expenses not covered by insurance during transplant, recovery, and rehab (listed on the following page).  Given the rising costs, it will realistically need to be closer to $10,000.   We have already raised $6,125.  The money will allow us to focus solely on Matt’s healing and well-being. He will be in the hospital for at least 2-4 weeks and then at least another 4-6 weeks of 5 rehab sessions per week. Since we are more than 40 miles from the IU Methodist Pulmonary Rehab facility, we are required to relocate to Indianapolis during that time.

If you would like to help, you may donate through Help Hope Live. On May 29th, a donation can be made through the site, and Help Hope Live will cover all the fees. If you prefer, you can mail a check to them or to Matt & me. We are using Everwise Credit Union for any donations addressed to us.

The mailing addresses and campaign link will be listed on the following page. Any amount will go a long way in making Matt’s surgery and recovery possible. Thank you for taking the time to read a little about us and Matt’s journey and helping in any way you can.

Many Blessings,
Matt & Erin

“For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares The Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future.”
~Jeremiah 29:11

        This is what your donations help cover

• Hospital and doctors’ fees not covered
  by insurance, including deductibles and
  copays; television rental during hospitalizations.
   
• Transplant-related medications and medication
  co-pays.
   
• Transportation: local travel (one-day round trip) and
  long-distance travel (overnight or longer) for Matt to
  access treatment or for a caregiver to visit our home.
   
• Relocation expenses to access treatment and rehab
  (i.e., hotel stay).
   
• Meals during medical travel or temporary relocation
  to access treatment and rehab.
   
• Reasonable maintenance costs for a vehicle to access
   treatment (i.e., oil changes).
   
• Emergency assistance for living expenses
  (i.e., mortgage, rent, utilities).
   
• Home health care for the client; hiring and paying
  caregivers if necessary.
   
• Medically recommended rehabilitation, including
  exercise-based rehab.
   
• Disposable medical equipment and supplies for
  the client and medically needed over-the-counter
  drug store items.
   
• Phone coverage for Matt so he won’t miss “The Call”.

          We have not started to need any of these yet.