American Lung Association

Hello, my name is Carley. I am a travel respiratory therapist. I am fundraising for the American Lung Association so I can be a part of their Climb For Clean Air program. The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. I have worked with patients who have COPD, cystic fibrosis, COVID, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, lung CA, and many others. I'm raising money for American Lung Association and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

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Grace Lynn was born on June 16, 2021, at 29 weeks, weighing 2 lb 6 oz. She is going on 10 weeks in the NICU and suffers from severely underdeveloped lungs. Soon after being born, Gracie was diagnosed with BranchoPulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), also known as chronic lung disease. Within Gracie’s short period of life, she has required very high oxygen levels, along with needing several different respiratory supports to keep her lungs inflated. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago, things took a turn for the worse and she was put on a ventilator to breathe. By God’s “Grace” and the support of her amazing medical team, she was able to come off the ventilator.  Grace is now receiving respiratory support through her CPAP and continues to make progress each day. 

In honor of NICU Awareness Month, I wanted to raise money and awareness for a cause that is near and dear to my heart- BronchoPulmonary Dysplasia. This is a condition that Gracie and so many other premature babies in the NICU struggle with. It’s also something they may continue to battle with for the remainder of their lives. Donations will be going to the American Lung Association, which works to fund lung disease research and support. 

I hope that you consider supporting this cause in honor of Gracie, and ultimately “Giving the Gift of Breath.”

Our miracle baby has fought so hard and continues to do so every day!

Thank you,
Kara St. Romain (mom)

What and When: From March 5th - March 7th, I will be participating in David Goggins' 2nd annual 4x4x48 challenge.  This run consists of running 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours.

Who: David Goggins is a retired United States Navy SEAL and former United States Air Force Tactical Air Control Party member who served in the Iraq War.  This challenge felt like an excellent opportunity to honor my father.  Straight out of high school, my dad enlisted in the Army.  Even after the Army, the military mindset never left my dad's side.  Most of my childhood, my dad worked two jobs to ensure that we never had to worry about making ends meet.  In the words of David Goggins, I have never known anyone able to "Stay Hard" like my dad.  To this day, you will still find my dad out in his yard, refusing to hire someone to do "his work" and climbing on the wall to cut the hedge.  Lucky for me, my dad never treated me differently since I was a girl.  I was taught that if I wanted something, I had to work for it.  I was expected to do my share and be part of the team.  If it was time to re-caulk the showers, I was there helping my dad smooth the bead with my pinky.  Pouring concrete? Just another weekend.  I learned so much and gained the ability to work hard.  As it relates to this challenge, I am not a runner and as someone who enjoys lifting weights, running 48 miles over 2 days isn't exactly something I feel confident about.  I don't care.  This is bigger than me.  The pain that people go through losing their loved ones to lung cancer, or any cancer for that matter, will never come close to any pain I might experience on my run.  Let's make a difference.  

Why: Around 6 years ago, my dad (Bill Dreshner) was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).   There is no cure for IPF and overtime the scarring continues to get worse.  After my dad's diagnosis, he was able to join a UCLA  medical trial for a medication that slows the fibrosis.  Although this drug helped my dad tremendously, his best option was a lung transplant.  After a few years, my dad became a candidate for a lung transplant at UCLA.  During one of their routine scans, a nodule was discovered on his lung.  The nodule was biopsied in November 2020 and the results were early stages of lung cancer.  My dad was heartbroken.  Upon finding out that he had cancer, he also learned that it would take away his chances of a lung transplant for the next 3-5 years, putting him right outside of the eligible age range.  Once again, UCLA came through for my dad and after extensive tests, determined that if they removed the bottom lobe of his lung, they would be able to completely remove the cancer and shorten the time span he would need to wait for the transplant.  In January 2021, one week prior to my dad's surgery, he was having a test performed for the surgery when one of the physician assistant's urged him into a wheelchair to rush him to the emergency room.  During the test they realized that one of his lungs had collapsed.  Although they wanted to make sure that his lung healed prior to the surgery, they knew how important it was to remove the cancer as soon as possible.  Miraculously, my dad was able to have the surgery as planned and they were able to remove the cancer.  Although my dad's recovery has not been very smooth due to the collapsed lung and the existing IPF, with the help and support of his doctors, family, and friends, he continues to defy odds.  

Our family feels very fortunate that somehow the cancer was caught early due to his IPF and we hope to someday see him become a lung transplant candidate again.   That being said, our story is unique.  Lung cancer takes many lives each year and typically is not detected until it is far too late.  After experiencing all of this with my family, I would like to make a difference in honor of my dad.  That is why I'm raising money to benefit American Lung Association, and any donation will help make an impact. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.









More information about American Lung Association: The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy.

On January 18, 2021, our beloved mother, Auria Rivera Aquino went home to be with the Lord. She was truly a loving, giving, soul who touch the lives of all who knew her.  Auria suffered from asthma her entire life and ultimately succumbed to pulmonary complications due to COVID-19. In Auria's memory we kindly ask you to consider donating to the American Lung Association to help countless others like her. 

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. COVID-19 is a lung infection and we are committed to providing trusted public health support during this pandemic. Our COVID-19 Action Initiative aims to end COVID-19 and defend against future respiratory virus pandemics by increasing research collaboration, developing vaccines, tests, and treatments, and with education and advocacy.

In honor of Austine's birthday, on December 14, we are hosting Mary Austine's March on Sunday, December 13th. This will be a 1 to 2 mile walk, which will be held virtually. Any proceeds from this walk will be donated to the American Lung Association.  We are determined to make this march for Austine a success and to support the American Lung Association in their work to battle lung disease.