In 2018 I had to call an ambulance for my mum; she was unable to breathe. At the hospital she was told she had pneumonia and was subsequently diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease  (A progressive disease that gets worse over time).

 

My dad was diagnosed 8 years ago with kidney disease and is on a disability pension. He can no longer work. He tires easily and, on the border, of having his own kidney transplant.

My mum was the main bread winner since my dad could no longer continue working. She was working at her successful cleaning business until she could no longer due to her illness. Fortunately, and we are so grateful, she does have great friends stepping in to help keep the buisness going all be it at a much-reduced capacity. Her clients have been very supportive and understanding.

Mum’s health has slowly but surely deteriorated to stage 4 (very serious). She is now at the point where she can hardly walk up our three front steps without being out of breathe. She lays down multiple times a day and is on oxygen. She is very fragile. I am very afraid that her time is running out.

The only option left to save her life is to receive a double lung transplant. She has been working with her lung specialist for 4 years and the Vancouver transplant team at the Vancouver General Hospital for 2 years. She is nearing the end of the evaluation process and deemed a good candidate for a transplant. She has also been assigned a psychologist, a dietician and social worker by the lung transplant clinic; a sign that progress is being made to get her to the transplant. A few more tests... (shes had ALOT of tests) a booster shot, and she should be good to hop on the transplant waiting list.

 

The transplant will be performed at the Vancouver General Hospital in downtown Vancouver. Once the transplant done and hospital stay completed the patient must stay and live in Vancouver within a few blocks from the hospital for at least 3 months.

A support person / caregiver must be present during the in-hospital postoperative stay and following hospital discharge with the patient for those 3 months. Since my father’s health will prevent him for taking on that role my aunt Brenda (my mum’s sister) from Ottawa has volunteered to be that support person for as long as it takes. The support person will support physical and emotional support during this stressful journey including assistance with personal care and accompany the patient to and from treatment appointments. She will also ensure that my mum’s medication requirements are followed accurately and assume the responsibilities of providing assistance with groceries, laundry, meal preparation and other activities necessary for a safe and comfortable postoperative recovery.

So yes, my parents have somehow navigated their way to this point on their own, but I know they are struggling and they will not be able to tackle to cost of having my mum and her support person in Vancouver for 3+ months

 

When we get the call to for the transplant, my mum will be admitted to hospital while my dad and aunt Brenda try to find suitable accommodation for my mum and my aunt to live during the recovery period. They are allowed 5 days in a hotel / motel to try to find this suitable accommodation and move in. The unit must be close to the VGH, must be furnished, have 2 bedrooms, kitchen, private bathroom, laundry facilities. There will be transportation costs to and from the hospital. Groceries and personal care items will be required. My father will try to visit on weekends if he is healthy enough to do so. There is health monitoring equipment not covered by the province as well. There will be multiple follow up visits to Vancouver that will require my mum and a family member to travel to Vancouver for several days at a time.

The cost for 2 people, under these circumstances, to live in Vancouver’s downtown along with all other expenses is not cheap. We have estimated the overall cost to be about 35K to 40K.

 

My parents are too proud to ask for help. We know they are sick with worry so Rob and I are asking for any help you can provide that will get them through this journey!

 

Any donation is appreciated, if you cannot donate we ask that you please share!

Lots of love,

Danielle and Rob