Joyce's Breath of Life

We would like to thank everyone in advance for any contribution given in support of our Mother’s struggle to cover costs of a double lung transplant.  She has insurance, of course, but only a small portion of the procedure is covered, not to mention post-operative treatment.  Prescriptions alone look to exceed tens of thousands of dollars.  Although she has been fighting this illness for some years now, Mom’s circumstance has recently been shifted into overdrive and time is crucial. Our Mom has always been the glue to hold the family together,   has taken care of many, never puts herself before anyone, but now is the time for her to be first.  Please take a few moments to read deeper into her story and learn more about why it is so important for Joyce to get this transplant.  

Here is her story…

After battling pneumonia for many years, Joyce was admitted for further testing in May of 2007.  In 2008, she was diagnosed with Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis.  IPF is an incurable lung disease.  The doctor she was seeing at that time informed her that she is basically “too old” and would not even be considered for a transplant.  Shortly thereafter, Mom changed docs, to one whom she felt had a better bedside manner, to say the least. In 2011, she grew ill and went to see her primary doctor who immediately sent her to the ER where she was then admitted into the hospital once again.  That was when she came home with the Oxygen.  Seeing our Mother unable to breathe independently was almost unbearable.  It was frightening to think that the woman who has made a life of taking care of everyone else’s needs, being free as a bird, loving life was now faced with so many limits.  Never had we been faced with such confusion.  It was a mystery how our Mother contracted this lung disease, I mean, she quit smoking in her early 30s, she was active, healthy even; however, her lungs are bad??  We just could not understand.  Then, one day, last June, she received notification that her pulmonary doctor would be abruptly moving out of state.  Kind of scary when you have a lung disease and your pulmonary doctor is flying the coop.  

So, needless to say, Mom got busy trying to find another new doctor and, being that the list of pulmonary docs isn’t very long, frustration and discouragement ensued.  Finally, after waiting months to be accepted, Mom was approved to be seen by the Washington University Doctors at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.  This was not only good news because she had gone over 6 months without a pulmonary doctor, but great news due to the fact that now there will be an entire team of doctors examining her!  From the first appointment with the Wash U docs, Mom was happy to be there.  Upon reviewing her records and performing their own tests and evaluations, they decided that our mother did indeed have bad lungs and diagnosed her with Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (CHP).  Following this discovery, were many more pokes, tests, and scans to check on the rest of her vital organs and the level of severity we are facing.  This resulted in confirmation that Mom’s lungs have been deteriorating at a significant pace over the past year or so and that she is indeed considerable for a transplant…but time is of the essence, so we have to act fast!  This team of docs almost instantly changed Mom’s whole outlook on her illness. They focus on positivity and have instilled into her how important it is to be positive no matter what.  And God, she has been. It’s amazing.  So now, here we are, she has been through a plethora of pre-operative testing, which not all are covered either, and now we are just preparing for the transplant.

Mom has a few advantages that will help her on the transplant list; such as, her living in St. Louis, MO, and the fact that everything else in her body is in great condition helps tremendously, as a patient without other issues will be considered before a patient with.  Our Mom has shown us nothing but strength and perseverance throughout not only this situation but throughout our entire lives.  If you have had the liberty of knowing her, you will agree that she is the epitome of strength, grace and love.  Please consider contributing to this cause so we can help her on her road to breathing easier and living longer. Thank you & God Bless.