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PALM BAY, FL – Michelle Nitti, a 48-year-old mother and newly engaged grandmother, is in a desperate race against time. After surviving a double lung transplant in 2012, she now faces the devastating reality of lung rejection. With no clear path forward in the U.S. healthcare system, her family is scrambling to find alternative life-saving options—before it’s too late.
Michelle’s health struggles began early in life. Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at just 10 years old, she learned to navigate life’s challenges with strength and determination. At 33, she received another devastating diagnosis: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a rare lung disease that primarily affects women of childbearing age. As the disease progressed, Michelle’s body deteriorated—her weight dropped to 90 lbs., and she became reliant on supplemental oxygen just to breathe.
Then, in July 2012, a miracle happened. A double lung transplant gave her a second chance at life. For over a decade, she thrived, embracing her role as a devoted mother to Kayla (24), Chelsea (23), and Chuckie (20). Recently, she became a proud grandmother and got engaged on her birthday, December 22, 2025, making her world feel complete.
But just when it seemed her future was finally secure, tragedy struck again.
Cancer, Rejection, and a Medical Roadblock
In June 2023, Michelle was diagnosed with Stage 1 colorectal cancer, which quickly progressed toward Stage 2. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation, a battle she fought courageously. In December 2023, the Mayo Clinic cleared her of cancer, but her celebration was short-lived. That same month, her transplanted lungs began to fail.
Now, Michelle faces her biggest challenge yet: she needs a second lung transplant to survive.
Despite her pressing condition, the Mayo Clinic has refused to place her back on the transplant list, citing a rule that patients must be cancer-free for at least five years before becoming eligible. Without another transplant, Michelle’s doctors estimate she has only 3 to 4 months left to live.
The Last Hope: A Transplant Panel Decision
Every so often, the Mayo Clinic convenes a transplant review panel to assess exceptional cases. If the panel denies her eligibility for a single lung transplant, she will be placed on hospice care, leaving her family and friends heartbroken.
Determined not to give up, Michelle’s loved ones have launched a GoFundMe campaign to explore potential transplant options outside of the United States. The costs will be overwhelming, but they refuse to stand by and watch her slip away.
How You Can Help
Michelle’s story is a testament to resilience, love, and the will to survive. She wants nothing more than to be there for her children, witness her daughter Chelsea’s wedding in 2025, and continue building a future with her fiancé.
Her family is asking for the community’s support—whether through donations, spreading awareness, or even connecting them with medical professionals who might help advocate for her case.
➡️ Donate to Michelle’s GoFundMe here: GoFundMe Link
Time is running out, but Michelle and her family refuse to lose hope. Now, they need the world to hear her story.
For more information or to offer assistance, please contact:
• Michelle Nitti: 321-890-6982
• Chelsea Peclet (Michelle’s Daughter): 321-591-5298
• Mayo Clinic Florida, Lung Transplant Coordinator (Alvin Gallardo, RN CCTC): 904-956-1906
