NEW LUNGS FOR ALEX HEISEL

My names is Alex and I am 25 years old.  I was born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) but I have never let that stop me from living my life as I have never wanted it to define me.  I have the best support system a girl could have !!  My friends and family mean the absolute world to me and I thank God every day for them.  Cystic Fibrosis is in some ways a ghost disease as I like to call it .  When someone asks what it's like to have CF, I tell them its exhausting, try breathing through a tiny straw all day.  I do everything I physically and mentally can to keep myself healthy until I run out of gas, then I recharge my self and do it all over again.  For most of my life I have had to stay in the hospital every 3 months for a 2 week period for what doctors call a "clean out" which include steroids and various antibiotic treatments.  The past couple years have been very scary and overwhelming for me.  In the summer of 2015 my "normal" health routine changed for the worse.  Fluid in my lungs created a hole in my right lung.  This created a lot of pain  for me and my stay turned into a 65 day hospital stay of which most of it I don't remember.  Dr McCarthy , my doctor that has treated me since I was 3 months old would speak with various specialist to see what we could do about the hole.  This along with several nodules on my lung, led to my current journey.  After this extended hospital stay things were extremely different. I could barely walk, I was on oxygen and my energy level was gone.  I could not keep up with my family and friends.  It took almost 6 months to feel some what normal but still struggle.  I have the lungs of an 85 year old. !!  Dr McCarthy soon talked to me about getting a lung transplant.  I was fortunate enough to be referred and accepted to Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto (the number one transplant success rate hospital in the world) As of June 16, 2017, I am officially on the lung transplant list.  I have to travel to Stanford every 2 months for pre transplant consultation.  This has really been a big financial stress for my family and the very generous friends that have helped us.  Asking for help is not something my family or myself like to do but we are finally at that point where we need to.  Each time we fly to Stanford it costs thousands of dollars which includes co pays, flight costs, lodging, meals, etc.  My mother who has been by my side through out this journey needs to be with me which cuts in to her work time.  When the time comes for my transplant, I will have to live in Palo Alto for at least 3-6 months and my mother will be with me as my caregiver.  We will need to secure lodging and any living essentials along the way.  I am so blessed that I get a second chance at life.  I feel so strongly that my whole life is going to change and I will keep my faith and postitive attidue during this whole journey.  Honestly any donation will help , monetary, airline miles, prayers, happy thoughs and encouragement.  Thank you all for listening and feel free to share :) 

Estimated transplant cost $350,000-$960,000