Caitlin’s Lung Transplant

We are fundraising for a family friend Caitlin Wilson. She is 14 years old and has a rare condition, idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). When Caitlin was 8 in January 2013 she was rushed to Sheffield’s children hospital, she had a prognosis of possible pulmonary hypertension. Caitlin was then transferred to Leeds general infirmary where this prognosis was confirmed. With no specialists in Leeds or Sheffield, she was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London where she had to have an emergency life saving operation to have a Hickman line inserted directly into the heart with 24/7 epoprostenol running through a CADD pump. In 2015 Caitlin had to have another operation to transfer her Hickman line from the right side to the left side of her body due to an infection starting around the entrance of the Hickman line. Caitlin then had to have another operation in May 2018 to change the line due to her growth and another infection. This rare condition leaves Caitlin breathless and constantly in pain. It leads to high blood pressure in the blood vessels supplying the lungs. It can damage the right side of the heart causing it to fail. Due to her condition and the side affects of her medication Caitlin is prone to nose bleeds and coughing up blood, these are side affects of the medication which are used to prevent blood clots and widen her blood vessels. This makes normal life for a 14 year old difficult and emotionally draining. The medication and IV therapy which usually control the disease have stopped working, leading to fluid build up in her lungs and heart, this has become life threatening for Caitlin and she is now in desperate need for a lung transplant. Caitlin is now at the very top of the priority list for a lung transplant and for this 14 year old Sheffield girl this is her last chance at life. We are hoping to raise money firstly for the family to cover accommodation and living costs for temporary living in London to be at Caitlin’s side throughout her operation and recovery time. Secondly, once Caitlin is released back home to Sheffield the family will have to travel back and forth to London weekly for check ups for a further 3-12 months and thirdly, in the time between now and Caitlin getting the call for a lung transplant, we want her to experience as much of the good stuff in life as possible and we want to check off as much of her bucket list as possible to ensure she goes into that operation with the happiest of hearts! Caitlin is the bubbliest, happiest and full of life young girl we have ever met and she is a credit to humanity ❤️ Please share and spare as much as you can. Every little helps and no amount is too small. Thank you so much x