Double Lung Transplant Survivor Climbs to Fight Lung Disease

Local Des Moines resident and double lung transplant survivor Tom Muselman will climb 85 floors, 1,796 steps in the Fight For Air Climb in Downtown Des Moines presented by Hubbell Realty Company to help raise awareness and research funding for lung disease, an illness he suffered from for 27 years prior to his transplant.

Muselman’s sons, Jeff and Jason, started climbing in the Fight For Air Climb in downtown Des Moines in 2010, shortly after their father received a double lung transplant. Their climbing team name, Team 27, originated because Muselman suffered from lung disease for 27 years; he was the 27th recipient of a lung transplant from the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics; and his transplant was on June 27, 2009. In 2011, Muselman himself was healthy enough to take part in the Fight For Air Climb, and has been climbing ever since.

“I only climbed one building out of the three the first year, but I felt like I accomplished something. Now I climb all four towers,” said Muselman. “The main reason that I climb is that I would like everyone to breathe clean air and hope that no one else goes through what I went through. People don’t realize what it is to breathe. I couldn’t get the air I needed in my lungs or out of my lungs. It is a big deal to me. We need to do anything we can do to fight lung disease.”

The team, which has grown from three people in 2010 to more than 100 people, is one of the top fundraising teams in the nation. In 2017, the team raised more than $33,000 and over the last eight years, they have raised a total of $207,231.

“I’m blessed because of God, my donor family, my wife, my sons and my friends. They were all my support group,” said Muselman.

The Fight For Air Climb presented by Hubbell Realty Company will take place on April 8, 2018 in downtown Des Moines. Registration for the 15th Annual Fight For Air Climb is currently open online or by calling 515-309-9507. Climbers can register for a discounted price of $15 before January 31, 2018.