Breaths for Alicia Craig

Lung Transplant - Alicia's Story

Our beautiful Alicia was born on Christmas Day, a gift from God.

She was born with Cystic Fibrosis which is a genetic disease. It causes the body to produce excessive thick mucus that is deposited in numerous vital organs. The most susceptible to this are the lungs. Over the years the mucus clogs the airways and destroys the lungs.

Alicia has fought this disease all of her young life. She is now on full-time oxygen and full-time intravenous (IV) medications just to keep her lungs functioning, to keep her out of respiratory failure as well as treat the multiple lung infections she is prone to. Now more than ever, she needs a DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT in order to survive. Alicia also has an additional bacteria called Burkholderia Cepacia  (B. Cepacia) which makes this procedure very high risk, much higher than a normal CF patient.  We have been working with the transplant team at UPMC in Pittsburgh as, to our knowledge, they are the only ones accepting CF patients with Cepacia for transplant. 

There are many costly aspects of this procedure that will not be covered under insurance.

·  Airlifts to Pittsburgh for the transplant

·  Possible multiple trips if lungs are not a match

·  3-6 months of temporary housing in Pittsburgh during recovery

·  Monthly lifelong medications that may not be covered under insurance after the surgery

We are asking for help for her expenses from all our friends out there.

Medical insurance only covers so much. We were told by her doctors to fundraise and have a very large contingency fund for the financial burden she will feel as a result of this surgery and its lifetime aftercare.

Alicia cannot live without this operation. There is no other option for her. We want to give her every chance there is to live a long normal life. We want her to be able to take a deep ‘Breath of Life’. Please feel it in your heart to give to her cause. Take a deep breath yourself and be grateful that you can do that, Alicia cannot.