Kormasa Amos LIFE, LOVE, LAUGHTER and LASTING LUNGS

My name is Kormasa Amos, and May 10th, 2024, made it 4 years since my initial double lung transplant. A Transplant Anniversary is a reminder of how precious life is. I am very grateful to be able to say I'm still here. Many people don't realize that transplant is not a cure, but time added to our years. I consider every added day a miracle on Earth.

In April 2023, my lungs went into rejection, and I've been fighting and surviving for over a year. The news rocked my world that it had only been 3 years after my initial double lung transplant. The decline was so rapid that, before I could process the changes physically happening, my lungs went into chronic rejection. Chronic rejection is considered irreversible and terminal. There is hope for another transplant, but there are no guarantees.

Many are not granted the opportunity to be considered for a 2nd transplant, so for my medical team to consider moving forward is a blessing in itself. For the past year, I have been diligently attending to my health and am in the process of transplant evaluation to get back on the transplant list.

If you believe the statistics, the average number of years added from lung transplant is between 5-8 years, but I know some who have celebrated 29 years, and with God's grace, that will also be my testimony.

My need now is financial security, which will help me focus on my wait and recovery period. This includes commuting from Rhode Island to Boston for appointments, blood labs, and physical rehab. It's overwhelming but possible.

I have a couple more trips to Boston in May. This past appointment at MGH informed my family that I stand a good chance of getting on the transplant list. MGH has hired seven new surgeons, so the turnaround time for transplants averages a month. I'm trying to wrap my head around the possibility of enjoying some of the 2024 summer. I'm ready to start living.

This journey has tested my faith like no other. The physical pain is the only familiar thing and even the pain is more intense than the 1st time. After years of waiting, I had finally started to live without the burden of needing oxygen. I was free to travel, work, be an active parent, and pursue my dreams.

But, the rejection quickly robbed me of my purpose and stole the joy of serving my community. It took away my ability to be a full-time parent. It's disrupted my daughter's and husband's lives through the constant appointments, ambulance trips, and hospital stays.

I still need help. Investing in reliable transportation would be a huge help. My husband and I have one vehicle that has already had its transmission replaced, and reliable transportation is needed to continue commuting from Rhode Island to Boston, MA.

Besides medical expenses, there are other expenses not covered by insurance that will help sustain us during this time. Our electric bill alone is higher because of the use of my 24/7 oxygen Concentrator. Until I am well enough to work, these challenges overwhelm me and my family life.

Yet, she persisted! It has not been easy breaking through the barrier of doubt, fear, and hopelessness. JESUS will always have the final say despite what doctor reports have said. While God is faithful, it is for us to be faith-filled.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11). I am filled with the hope that God will touch your heart to contribute to this journey to healing.

October 2024

Update: I purchased a car that has been able to get me to and from appointments. These appointments have helped me get on the wait list for a new pair of lungs. Since being listed, I have had one dry run and have not had another run in over a month. My hope remains high. In the meantime, I am focusing on my time and making the best memories with my daughter.

Update Dec 2024

It's Christmas! This holiday, I'm celebrating making it through 2024. My mindset remains positive, and my faith is in the attitude of expectation. I EXPECT only good things will work for ALL good. This year really made me reflect on the lessons of this time in my life. Through this journey, I found a key element. JOY! I began to not only find joy but choose joy. Yes, my life is burdened by this medical situation, but I'm still alive, and, in that breath, I am still able to do so much. I still have a home, a beautiful, bright daughter, a supportive community, and companionship. I'm really humbled by my life's journey and the fact that I've survived so long. I've survived painful medical procedures, disappointments, depression, all this on top of the physical trauma my body continues to endure. I looked at all that, and I chose JOY!