Discovering His Purpose
For most of his life, Christian has lived in Lake Oswego, Oregon. A musician and healthcare technology expert, the area surrounds him with some of his favorite things: fresh air, trees, hiking trails, and ski slopes.
“Everything you could ever want is within a 45-minute drive,” Christian said.
Tragically, Christian was involved in a motorcycle accident early in life that left him searching for answers. Lucky to be alive, he said, for a time Christian left Oregon, relocating to Orlando, Florida. But it didn’t take long for him to realize Florida wasn’t home.
“When I came back to Oregon, I could smell the fresh air,” he said. “It’s just different here.”
His love for his family made reacclimating to life on the West Coast easier. His sister and two of his brothers live nearby and are always there providing support.
“It’s kind of a blessing that things didn’t work out in Florida,” Christian said. “The people that love me and care about me are here.”
In 2019, Christian visited his doctor about a persistent cough. Months later, Christian was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic, progressive lung disease that prevents the lungs from transporting oxygen to the bloodstream.
“It took a second for those words to sink in,” he said. “My mind filled with fear. I could not believe what my ears had just heard.”
Christian made it his mission to learn everything he could about the disease and the treatment necessary to manage his symptoms. His insurance would help some, he said, but wouldn’t cover the full cost of care.
“When I came across the cost, I almost passed out,” Christian said. “I was panicking because I didn’t know how I would be able to pay for it.”
An IPF support representative referred Christian to The Assistance Fund’s (TAF’s) Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Copay Assistance Program. The program provides financial assistance for out-of-pocket costs for all prescribed FDA-approved treatment for the disease, such as copays, deductibles, and coinsurance.
“My experience with TAF was simple and calming,” he said. “Even when I made a mistake in the application process, TAF made it really easy to fix.”
It took just minutes for his online application to be approved.
“After that, I stood up and did a little happy dance,” Christian said. “I no longer had to choose between the medication that keeps me alive and paying my bills.”
During the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, Christian started his own nonprofit charity. Its mission is to provide information, funding, and resources to Oregonians living with IPF.
“When I was diagnosed with IPF, I finally knew why I made it out of the motorcycle accident,” he said. “It was to do whatever I can to help other people that have IPF.”
Christian doesn’t sit still. His busy days involve hiking, spending time with family, and playing music. A true entertainer, he is even working on recording an album.
“It broke my heart when Chris Cornell, David Bowie, and Aretha Franklin died,” Christian said. “But I also love classical music. Those people are real musicians.”
Christian says he credits both the support of his family and TAF for allowing him to live the life he wants.
“The people at The Assistance Fund are absolute rock stars,” he said. “I will never be able to say thank you enough.”
