Addie Hawkins
Donation protected
UPDATE 09/09/2018: We are so very happy to share that Addie has been officially listed on the Lung Transplant Registry as of 09/08/18!! Addie has worked so hard since she arrived in Pittsburgh to get strong enough to qualify and she did it!!! Addie is now enrolled in an NIH trial at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). This is the only place in the country where lung transplants and follow-up bone marrow transplants are performed on patients with Addie's immune-deficiency condition.
Addie has been feeling well enough this week to get online and when she saw the overwhelming support from everyone on this page she was moved to tears! We cannot say "thank you" enough!! And please keep praying!
With that said, we must now face the fact that while Addie's journey has thankfully taken a huge positive leap in the right direction, we know the road is a long one. The expenses associated with lung transplants are staggering, not to mention the out-of-state living expenses. It is not unreasonable to expect Addie and Family to remain in Pittsburgh for up to 6 months or even longer because after a successful lung transplant, Addie will then undergo a bone marrow transplant. After Addie is well enough to return home to Florida, she will be required to take certain (and expensive) medications for the rest of her life. It is for these reasons that we continue to ask for your support. We are so thankful for the gifts given thus far and please know how helpful your donations are to Addie and her Family! No matter what, please continue to pray for Addie's increased strength, her comfort and that a matching donor is found soon. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU ALL!
UPDATE 09/01/2018: Overwhelmed is an understatement. We cannot thank everyone enough for the support, love and prayers that have been shown over the last several weeks for Addie and her family!! But we aren't stopping here - Addie's journey has only just begun!
On Friday, Aug 24th Addie was accepted and transferred to UPMC Pittsburgh. Even though Addie was accepted for testing, she is not officially on the transplant list yet. UPMC has a transplant team that is evaluating Addie and will make the determination when they feel she is strong enough to proceed on to the list. In the meantime, on 08/29 the team determined that more strengthening exercises and increased nutrition is needed for Addie, so she is on hold. Elaine has already mentioned how impressed she is with the hospital and how welcoming the staff is. Addie has adjusted well to being there.
Elaine and family/friends are beginning to adjust to the realization that they are expecting to be in Pittsburgh for several months. This is just one of so many examples of why your generous donations are such a huge blessing!
Again, we cannot thank you enough, from the bottom of our hearts!
ORIGINAL POST 08/16/2018: Straight to the point - Addie is in need of a lung transplant. For the last 4 months Addie has been battling pneumocystis carinii (a pneumonia that is opportunistic in the lungs of those with compromised immune systems). Around age 3, Addie was diagnosed with a rare immune deficiency. Although she has had pneumonia over the years, she usually snaps back, but the cumulative damage has left her lungs scarred and unable to heal.
Addie has been hospitalized this time for close to 4 weeks and is currently receiving ECMO treatment in Jacksonville. The transplant process has been set in motion and above all else, prayers are requested that a donor match will be found quickly and the path will be cleared for a successful transplant.
So many have asked how they can help, so we are sharing Addie's story and providing that opportunity. Addie proudly graduated this year to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and in July she made the move to Jacksonville to begin her new career - a career where her beautiful light would shine through her kindness and compassion. It was during and immediately following this move that Addie's illness took a serious turn. In addition to medical expenses, day-to-day living expenses are also a need and will continue to be as Addie's recovery will be a lengthy one.
Addie's family is so appreciative of all the prayers, love and support that has been shown during this difficult time. Even if you are unable to give financially, your prayers alone will be a gift. Thank you.
Addie has been feeling well enough this week to get online and when she saw the overwhelming support from everyone on this page she was moved to tears! We cannot say "thank you" enough!! And please keep praying!
With that said, we must now face the fact that while Addie's journey has thankfully taken a huge positive leap in the right direction, we know the road is a long one. The expenses associated with lung transplants are staggering, not to mention the out-of-state living expenses. It is not unreasonable to expect Addie and Family to remain in Pittsburgh for up to 6 months or even longer because after a successful lung transplant, Addie will then undergo a bone marrow transplant. After Addie is well enough to return home to Florida, she will be required to take certain (and expensive) medications for the rest of her life. It is for these reasons that we continue to ask for your support. We are so thankful for the gifts given thus far and please know how helpful your donations are to Addie and her Family! No matter what, please continue to pray for Addie's increased strength, her comfort and that a matching donor is found soon. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU ALL!
UPDATE 09/01/2018: Overwhelmed is an understatement. We cannot thank everyone enough for the support, love and prayers that have been shown over the last several weeks for Addie and her family!! But we aren't stopping here - Addie's journey has only just begun!
On Friday, Aug 24th Addie was accepted and transferred to UPMC Pittsburgh. Even though Addie was accepted for testing, she is not officially on the transplant list yet. UPMC has a transplant team that is evaluating Addie and will make the determination when they feel she is strong enough to proceed on to the list. In the meantime, on 08/29 the team determined that more strengthening exercises and increased nutrition is needed for Addie, so she is on hold. Elaine has already mentioned how impressed she is with the hospital and how welcoming the staff is. Addie has adjusted well to being there.
Elaine and family/friends are beginning to adjust to the realization that they are expecting to be in Pittsburgh for several months. This is just one of so many examples of why your generous donations are such a huge blessing!
Again, we cannot thank you enough, from the bottom of our hearts!
ORIGINAL POST 08/16/2018: Straight to the point - Addie is in need of a lung transplant. For the last 4 months Addie has been battling pneumocystis carinii (a pneumonia that is opportunistic in the lungs of those with compromised immune systems). Around age 3, Addie was diagnosed with a rare immune deficiency. Although she has had pneumonia over the years, she usually snaps back, but the cumulative damage has left her lungs scarred and unable to heal.
Addie has been hospitalized this time for close to 4 weeks and is currently receiving ECMO treatment in Jacksonville. The transplant process has been set in motion and above all else, prayers are requested that a donor match will be found quickly and the path will be cleared for a successful transplant.
So many have asked how they can help, so we are sharing Addie's story and providing that opportunity. Addie proudly graduated this year to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and in July she made the move to Jacksonville to begin her new career - a career where her beautiful light would shine through her kindness and compassion. It was during and immediately following this move that Addie's illness took a serious turn. In addition to medical expenses, day-to-day living expenses are also a need and will continue to be as Addie's recovery will be a lengthy one.
Addie's family is so appreciative of all the prayers, love and support that has been shown during this difficult time. Even if you are unable to give financially, your prayers alone will be a gift. Thank you.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kelly Brown
Organizer
Ormond Beach, FL
Margaret Elaine Harwood
Beneficiary