Hi my name is Barb McCarthy. Iv'e had COPD for years due to smoking. Of course I don't smoke anymore but it took me going into respitory arrest back in August  of 2013. Two of my grandchildren had to see this. They were so great about it. I was on life support for 51/2 days. I have no recollection of any of this. My family are the ones who had to sit and wait to see if I was going to make it. I woke up after 4days.I was on oxygen even more after that. I couldnt and still can't do much without getting out of breath. I tire easily. The Cleveland Clinic told me I'll need at least $15,000 to help cover food lodging  travel and other essenatials for going back & forth for this pre-transplant  program. This is  only for pre treament .  I'll be traveling 2hrs. each way every 3 months until I am ready to go on the waiting list.  After the transplant I'll need to stay in the hosp. for around 3-4 weeks and because I live 2hrs. away I will have to stay with another caregiver, which will be my husband. We will have to be in a hotel or something for another 2-3 months. I will be on many meds called anti- rejection meds. They are very exspesive and one of them is $2,ooo a month. I will  be going back in 3 months. We are on a fixed income. My husband is on SS and I'm on SS  Disability so we have no way of being able to pay for this but without it I will steadily get worse until I'm gone. The rest of me is fairly healthy so if I can get new lungs I'll be able to have a better quailty of life. 
   I would like to thank everybody for this 2nd chance  at life. Many prayers for all of you.

                                                                                 Sincerely,
                                                                                 Barb McCarthy