for Marnie
Donation protected
I first met my friend Marnie over 10 years ago- we met on a large family cattle station and both worked as a nanny for 2 different families.
Marnie has 5 kids, 10 and under.
Fast forward to today- I have no doubt in my mind that Marnie will die if she doesn’t receive a double lung transplant.
Marnie has pulmonary fibrosis.
I have watched Marnie’s health deteriorate rapidly, particularly in the last Year.
2008- Marnie was diagnosed with Pneumonitis
Discovered because she couldn’t breathe doing normal day to day tasks.
Marnie was put on Medication and told she would get better.
Until 2013 Marnie had remained fairly stable until she got Pneumonia. It was then that she was told she has pulmonary fibrosis and would need a transplant eventually.
Pulmonary Fibrosis = scarring on the lungs, cause unknown.
In 2016 Marnie was sent to the transplant team at the Alfred hospital for assessment- she was told that she needed to gain weight to make the list.
As Marnie’s health had deteriorated so much and she couldn’t really care for herself, a small group of us started rallying round and making sure that high calorie meals were made and that Marnie ate lots.
May 2016 Marnie had another setback- a bowel obstruction and was in hospital for some time.
From May to December we continued to assist Marnie in her journey to gain weight.
December 2016- right on Christmas- Marnie had a pneumothorax and admitted to hospital where they had to place a chest drain. Marnie came home with this in.
Her quality of life became even more debilitated.
February 17 the lung finally stayed up and the drain was removed. That only lasted a couple of weeks.
March 17 another bowel obstruction and a Pneumothorax. Chest drain placed again and is still in.
April 17- Marnie had her appointment at the transplant clinic. She was told she’s too underweight. To go home, gain weight, sort out the chest drain with Monash. No appointment made again with Transplant team. Hopes shattered, health remains fragile.
I have the upmost respect at how strong Marnie has remained emotionally- Her children are her drive to survive. Her quality of life is very limited as Marnie is unable to participate in normal activities. All the usual mum things- taking your kids to school, attending school events, going to sports, going on holidays.
Even just the simple pleasures like going for a walk in the park, kicking a soccer ball with her kids. Making a birthday cake, taking the kids to see Santa, going Christmas shopping.
Visiting friends, self-care. Perhaps working a normal job.
The list is endless of the things Marnie is unable to do without a set of new lungs. Even talking on the phone Marnie gets breathless.
We remain optimistic that the chest drain “might” come out again but it is clear that the lung is weak and may not stay up again.
I have watched Marnie’s battle to gain weight and seen her effort to try and gain weight. Even to the point where they placed an NG tube- Marnie’s worst fear- but then they removed it as her appetite decreased. I understand that there is strict guidelines for a transplant BUT what better a candidate than a young mum with 5 kids, a mum who doesn’t ever drink or smoke, a mum that is determined to beat this awful debilitating disease, a mum who would give anything just to see her kids grow up.
Marnie feels like the transplant team have given up on her “left her to die”
Marnie now wants to seek a second opinion- but obviously with limited health- “she can’t fly” limited funds “Marnie can’t work” “5 young children” this poses challenges.
A go-fund me page has been set up-
Marnie also has a Facebook page describing her journey. ”Marnie's Journey through Pulmonary Fibrosis”
Although Marnie is feeling somewhat deflated in spirits- she continues to try and gain weight, to fight for her life and keeps her will to live.
Any donation would contribute to helping Marnie get the help she desperately needs to get her to where she needs to get this lung transplant, to see her kids grow....
Thankyou xx
Marnie has 5 kids, 10 and under.
Fast forward to today- I have no doubt in my mind that Marnie will die if she doesn’t receive a double lung transplant.
Marnie has pulmonary fibrosis.
I have watched Marnie’s health deteriorate rapidly, particularly in the last Year.
2008- Marnie was diagnosed with Pneumonitis
Discovered because she couldn’t breathe doing normal day to day tasks.
Marnie was put on Medication and told she would get better.
Until 2013 Marnie had remained fairly stable until she got Pneumonia. It was then that she was told she has pulmonary fibrosis and would need a transplant eventually.
Pulmonary Fibrosis = scarring on the lungs, cause unknown.
In 2016 Marnie was sent to the transplant team at the Alfred hospital for assessment- she was told that she needed to gain weight to make the list.
As Marnie’s health had deteriorated so much and she couldn’t really care for herself, a small group of us started rallying round and making sure that high calorie meals were made and that Marnie ate lots.
May 2016 Marnie had another setback- a bowel obstruction and was in hospital for some time.
From May to December we continued to assist Marnie in her journey to gain weight.
December 2016- right on Christmas- Marnie had a pneumothorax and admitted to hospital where they had to place a chest drain. Marnie came home with this in.
Her quality of life became even more debilitated.
February 17 the lung finally stayed up and the drain was removed. That only lasted a couple of weeks.
March 17 another bowel obstruction and a Pneumothorax. Chest drain placed again and is still in.
April 17- Marnie had her appointment at the transplant clinic. She was told she’s too underweight. To go home, gain weight, sort out the chest drain with Monash. No appointment made again with Transplant team. Hopes shattered, health remains fragile.
I have the upmost respect at how strong Marnie has remained emotionally- Her children are her drive to survive. Her quality of life is very limited as Marnie is unable to participate in normal activities. All the usual mum things- taking your kids to school, attending school events, going to sports, going on holidays.
Even just the simple pleasures like going for a walk in the park, kicking a soccer ball with her kids. Making a birthday cake, taking the kids to see Santa, going Christmas shopping.
Visiting friends, self-care. Perhaps working a normal job.
The list is endless of the things Marnie is unable to do without a set of new lungs. Even talking on the phone Marnie gets breathless.
We remain optimistic that the chest drain “might” come out again but it is clear that the lung is weak and may not stay up again.
I have watched Marnie’s battle to gain weight and seen her effort to try and gain weight. Even to the point where they placed an NG tube- Marnie’s worst fear- but then they removed it as her appetite decreased. I understand that there is strict guidelines for a transplant BUT what better a candidate than a young mum with 5 kids, a mum who doesn’t ever drink or smoke, a mum that is determined to beat this awful debilitating disease, a mum who would give anything just to see her kids grow up.
Marnie feels like the transplant team have given up on her “left her to die”
Marnie now wants to seek a second opinion- but obviously with limited health- “she can’t fly” limited funds “Marnie can’t work” “5 young children” this poses challenges.
A go-fund me page has been set up-
Marnie also has a Facebook page describing her journey. ”Marnie's Journey through Pulmonary Fibrosis”
Although Marnie is feeling somewhat deflated in spirits- she continues to try and gain weight, to fight for her life and keeps her will to live.
Any donation would contribute to helping Marnie get the help she desperately needs to get her to where she needs to get this lung transplant, to see her kids grow....
Thankyou xx
Organizer
Nic Williamson
Organizer
Taren Point NSW
