Poet Dean Young has written more than 10 books and taught around the country.  He has coped with a degenerative heart condition for more than 10 years, and now his friends and family are seeking donations as the poet prepares for a heart transplant.

If you want to help, you can donate through National Foundation for Transplants (NFT), a fundraising nonprofit that has worked with transplant patience since 1983.

Here’s more from the donation site: “Dean has been placed on the transplant list at Seton Medical Center Austin, and has just been upgraded to a very critical category. He’s got to get a heart soon, or go to intermediate drastic measures like a mechanical external pump. Whatever the scenario, the financial expenses, both direct and collateral, will be massive. Yes, he has sound health insurance, but even so, he will have enormous bills not covered by insurance–which is where you can help, with your financial support.”