Ginger Isaksen Lung Fund

Our mother who is a special education teacher of preschool children with autism, who also does early intervention, managed to work, get her masters degree, take care of her family all while battling an autoimmune disease (Sjogren’s Syndrome). In February this year her doctor made a decision to try out an immunosuppressive drug to help her plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The drug had two booster doses to kick start the medication. The second dose was given in March.

In May our mother was hospitalized due to an adverse reaction to the medication. She was intubated for 6 days and placed on a high dose of steroids which saved her life. After a month of being in the hospital she was able to go home. Over the next few months she was in and out of the hospital a couple more times. She sought other medical options to help her repair the damage that was done.

In late September the second opinion told our mother the steroids were no longer working for her and she could start reducing them rather quickly. While decreasing the steroids a new medication was introduced. A week later our mother was rushed to the emergency room unable to breathe. The doctors acted quickly to stabilize her and recommended she seek medical attention in NY. She is going to New York Presbyterian/Columbia University to determine what further procedures need to be done, which could include a lung transplant.

Due to the severity of the situation both our mother and father have been out of work as he is her full time caregiver. Please help support our family during this difficult time.