Dani's Lung Transplant Recovery

Danielle has been fighting multiple rare diseases since February, 2015 at the young age of 22. It started with a benign tumor in her abdomen, diagnosed as Castleman’s Disease . After removing the grapefruit-sized tumor, she had an autoimmune response called Paraneoplastic Pemphigus . This caused Danielle’s antibodies to attack her mucus membranes including the eyes, nails, mouth, throat, skin and eventually lungs, creating a buildup of scar tissue in some of the more serious attacks.

Scar tissue left behind in the thousands of bronchioles (the smallest airways of the lungs) left Danielle with restricted breathing, a disease called Bronchiolitis Obliterans . It progressed so much that her lung function was less than 10%. Doctors consider anything below 30% as extremely impaired.

Danielle’s lung function combined with her low to non-existent immune system disqualified her from any lung transplant options. She was told by multiple doctors in Salt Lake City and Portland that there was nothing more that they could do for her.

Danielle and her family had to accept that her prognosis was terminal. The hurt she and her family felt would weigh on their hearts forever.

In October, 2017, after these dark years filled with anger and despair, Danielle was met with a glimpse of light and hope. She found a transplant doctor in St. Louis, Missouri who specializes in patients with low to non-existent immune systems, and he agreed to help Danielle. So, with the support and love from her family and friends, Danielle flew to St. Louis and qualified for a bilateral lung transplant.

Late one evening, at Barnes Jewish Hospital, Tuesday, November, 28, Danielle got the amazing news that she’d be getting new lungs by the next morning if tests went well.

They went well.

Danielle was out of surgery with new lungs on Wednesday, November, 29.

Danielle’s younger sister, Sammi, has taken upon the immense task of being her sole care-taker, 24/7, during their time in St. Louis. This means that Sammi had to quit her job, leave her friends and family and will now care for Danielle post-transplant surgery. Since Danielle needs round-the-clock  care, Sammi can’t get a second job to help bring income into their household. They are left struggling with extreme medical debt and medical and life expenses. They will be faced with much more as Danielle’s road to recovery begins.

I’m creating this campaign because Danielle and Sammi are in need of financial support through this stressful time.

Danielle has not been able to work since 2015. She’s currently on disability, which doesn’t cover many of her necessary life costs. Plus, insurance doesn’t cover all costs required for Danielle’s health including:
Medication
Treatment
Medical Equipment
Hospital Visits

This is Danielle’s chance at a beautiful, incredible life like she has always deserved. With the help of your donations, she can start the next chapter without the world weighing on her shoulders.

Thank you for reading, and for supporting our girl!