Angela Hunnicutt and Family

On October 2, 2016, Angela Hunnicutt was diagnosed with Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis,  a chronic lung disease that causes progressive scarring of the lung tissue.  Complications from the disease quickly caused Angela to have to make the difficult decision to leave her job in order to focus on her health.  These difficult symptoms and side effects of the disease progressed rapidly.  By June 2018, Angela was placed on full-time oxygen and was informed that a double-lung transplant was the only effective treatment option.  Angela and her family quickly began the testing and procedures to be placed on the transplant list at Emory University Hospital.  After weeks and weeks of exhaustive, invasive testing, Angela was placed on the transplant list at Emory.  However, the family was strongly encouraged to also apply for the transplant list at Duke University Hospital because the typical transplant wait time at Emory is 3 to 6 months.  The medical staff was seriously concerned about the difficulties that would arise from waiting that long for a transplant.  This morning, on October 1st,  Angela and her family started the training and testing procedures at Duke when she received a surprising phone call from Emory.  They had a lung transplant available for her!

Around 9 pm tonight (10/1), Angela's double-lung transplant, an 8-10 hour surgery, began.   Please continue to send Angela, Tim, Alicia, Brian, and all extended family prayers, love, and thoughts during this time.

This surgery is only the beginning of long, difficult journey.  Recovery will require Angela to remain in the hospital for several months.  The family will need to travel and stay in Atlanta during this time.  Medical expenses have already and will continue to add up quickly.  The Hunnicutts have contributed positively to our community through Tiger Baptist Church, the Rabun County School System, and more.  It's our turn as a community to give back to this deserving family.  All donations will go directly towards medical expenses but also to the lodging, food, and transportation costs that will quickly accrue over the next several months during the recovery process.

Thank you!