Duey Strong Double Lung Transplant
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UPDATE: 7/7/23: Duane is doing remarkably well and completely on track! His doctors are very happy with his progress and he was moved out of ICU on July 4th and hopes to be moved to rehab facility next week! Keep those prayers coming!!!
UPDATE 7/1/23: The lung transplant was successful and Duane has a new set of healthy lungs! Long road ahead so keep the prayers coming!!UPDATE 7/1/23: Last night Duane was offered and accepted a double lung transplant. Anthony drove them to Chicago, and they arrived safely around 11pm. The transplant started at 5:30am this morning . Please lift up prayers for DueyStrong. Duane was very emotional, excited and nervous all at the same time. At first he said “I don’t know what I’m feeling right now”, but after we prayed he said “It’s game time!!” We place our trust in you Lord Jesus. Please comfort the family of the donor, and Bless the hands of the surgeons and medical staff. Give Duane your strength to not only endure this surgery, but to thrive from it. With You, we know his strength will be renewed. Amen.Many of you have followed Duane’s journey over the past three years as he fought his way back from the horrific fungus that attacked him and almost took his life. If you talk with Duane, you will quickly learn that his unwavering faith is what has sustained him. We all truly believe that it was God’s will that he survive and without a doubt his recovery was nothing short of a miracle. He will tell you that he believes God has a purpose for him and he continually listens to see what God is trying to tell him to do with this second chance. Unfortunately, the damage to his lungs was far too great for him to make a full recovery but as God continues to answer our prayers, Duane has been approved for a lung transplant! He was listed on the United Network for Organ Sharing on June 12th, 2023. Duane has been blessed with the opportunity for a bilateral lung transplant at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago. Because of his advanced stage, we expect this to happen quickly. At this point, it has been a whirlwind of doctor’s visits, tests, procedures, and so many other things too numerous to mention. Duane and Kathy will need to relocate to Chicago for at least three months post-transplant in addition to all the traveling to Illinois that they have already had to do! For example, this past week Duane and Kathy stayed in Chicago for four nights while Duane got his GJ Tube, which was a procedure that he needed before getting listed. Navigating the city will be another challenge that they will have to take on; so frequent taxis and/or Ubers will be an added expense. As you can imagine, a double lung transplant and all that entails is an expensive medical procedure that will incur exorbitant costs not all of which will be covered by insurance. Transplants also require annual medications for the rest of Duane’s life to prevent lung rejection. In addition, Duane will need full-time care for at least 12 months post-transplant, which means Kathy will continue to be his primary caregiver. Many of you graciously supported Duane back in 2020 through prayer and donations. With your support, Duane was able to max out his recovery and continue to live his life. Unfortunately, his quality of life has degraded to a point that is no longer sustainable and transplant is the next step for him to live a life where he can breathe again. So once again we ask you for support first and foremost with prayers as Duane embarks on this next stage of his journey and monetarily if you can do so.
UPDATE 7/1/23: The lung transplant was successful and Duane has a new set of healthy lungs! Long road ahead so keep the prayers coming!!UPDATE 7/1/23: Last night Duane was offered and accepted a double lung transplant. Anthony drove them to Chicago, and they arrived safely around 11pm. The transplant started at 5:30am this morning . Please lift up prayers for DueyStrong. Duane was very emotional, excited and nervous all at the same time. At first he said “I don’t know what I’m feeling right now”, but after we prayed he said “It’s game time!!” We place our trust in you Lord Jesus. Please comfort the family of the donor, and Bless the hands of the surgeons and medical staff. Give Duane your strength to not only endure this surgery, but to thrive from it. With You, we know his strength will be renewed. Amen.Many of you have followed Duane’s journey over the past three years as he fought his way back from the horrific fungus that attacked him and almost took his life. If you talk with Duane, you will quickly learn that his unwavering faith is what has sustained him. We all truly believe that it was God’s will that he survive and without a doubt his recovery was nothing short of a miracle. He will tell you that he believes God has a purpose for him and he continually listens to see what God is trying to tell him to do with this second chance. Unfortunately, the damage to his lungs was far too great for him to make a full recovery but as God continues to answer our prayers, Duane has been approved for a lung transplant! He was listed on the United Network for Organ Sharing on June 12th, 2023. Duane has been blessed with the opportunity for a bilateral lung transplant at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago. Because of his advanced stage, we expect this to happen quickly. At this point, it has been a whirlwind of doctor’s visits, tests, procedures, and so many other things too numerous to mention. Duane and Kathy will need to relocate to Chicago for at least three months post-transplant in addition to all the traveling to Illinois that they have already had to do! For example, this past week Duane and Kathy stayed in Chicago for four nights while Duane got his GJ Tube, which was a procedure that he needed before getting listed. Navigating the city will be another challenge that they will have to take on; so frequent taxis and/or Ubers will be an added expense. As you can imagine, a double lung transplant and all that entails is an expensive medical procedure that will incur exorbitant costs not all of which will be covered by insurance. Transplants also require annual medications for the rest of Duane’s life to prevent lung rejection. In addition, Duane will need full-time care for at least 12 months post-transplant, which means Kathy will continue to be his primary caregiver. Many of you graciously supported Duane back in 2020 through prayer and donations. With your support, Duane was able to max out his recovery and continue to live his life. Unfortunately, his quality of life has degraded to a point that is no longer sustainable and transplant is the next step for him to live a life where he can breathe again. So once again we ask you for support first and foremost with prayers as Duane embarks on this next stage of his journey and monetarily if you can do so.
Organisateur et bénéficiaire
Heather Mlachnik
Organisateur
Waterford, WI
Kathy Mlachnik
Bénéficiaire