Pat Donovan Breathing With Pat

Six years ago, Pat was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. IPF is an untreatable and incurable lung disease of unknown origin. Over the years, we have watched as Pat has physically deteriorated. He’s now on oxygen 27/7, has lost weight, and is very limited in what he can do with the energy he has. Despite this, he has an amazing amount of patience and peace. He is fearless in the face of this horrible disease. His faith seems to grow stronger even as he weakens.

The doctors have been clear that a lung transplant is the only treatment available for Pat. Even if he does receive a transplant, he will be exchanging a fatal illness for a chronic one: that of transplant recipient with a lot of serious side effects and life-long medical care.

Despite these risks, this is a very exciting and hopeful time for us.

With the assessment for lung transplant in progress, Pat and Kim (his wife of 34 years) have given us their permission to reach out to you and ask for your support.

What can you do?




- First, you can pray for Pat, his family, and all those who will be caring for him.  You can also pray for Pat's donor.



- Second, you can stay in touch. Call, email, or use this website, which is managed by Pat's daughter, Mary, and sister, Judy.




- Third, you can donate and/or ask others to donate. As you can all imagine the medical bills alone will be astronomical, not to mention the costs related to providing 24/7 care for Pat in Boston after surgery and for months to come at home. We have set up a nonprofit charitable organization through which donations can be made. If you would like to donate, please send checks to: PJ Donovan Support Fund, c/o Kurt Fortier, 51 Webster Ave North, Bangor, ME 04401. Please make checks out to PJ Donovan Support Fund. (Please note that the box on the right hand side of this web site does not go to Pat, but to the management of this site.)


Regardless of what else you may be able to do, we ask for your prayers.