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Helen's double lung transplant accommodation cost

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My name is Susan and, after hearing a colleague's story, I felt compelled to help her and her family in any way that I could.

So, firstly, can I ask - have you ever heard of IPF?

Neither had I until I was having a chat with Helen, who is one of the long-standing presenters on Sunny Govan Radio.

Helen presents (or I should say presented) the ‘Helsbells rock show’ and the ‘Dolly Mixtures’ show at the station. Sadly, Helen has had to give up her shows due to IPF – Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult.

It's not clear what causes it, but it usually affects people who are around 70 to 75 years old and is rare in people under 50.

(Helen is only in her 50’s!)

Several treatments can help reduce the rate at which IPF gets worse, but there's currently no treatment that can stop or reverse the scarring of the lungs.”

What does this mean for Helen? Well - she is in urgent need of a double lung transplant!

I asked Helen to tell us, in her own words, what she is living with…

“My IPF is a progressive condition which means my breathlessness and oxygen needs increase. I was finally assessed by the transplant team at Freeman Hospital early March. It was agreed after a few days that I was a suitable candidate for a double lung transplant. The usual 4 - 5 week wait to be added to the active transplant list then turned into 4-5 months wait.

Additional scans and tests were requested but the letter listing these was not sent to the Respiratory team here for nearly a month. Covid has caused all hospital departments to become back logged. Waiting lists are longer and waiting time is longer too. Delays are frustrating for anyone but if you have a limited life span it’s very hard to cope with.

I am now officially on the active transplant list so it’s a different type of waiting, this time with hope that I still have a chance. I will need to be at Freeman Hospital for probably 6 - 8 weeks. Normally the hospital has flats where relatives can stay during this time but due to Covid restrictions the flats are not in use. We now must find local accommodation and pay for it ourselves. It is a huge worry on top of everything else, but we must do it. It’s a necessity not a luxury.

Fingers, toes and everything else crossed!”

Helen lives with her family in Glasgow, but the hospital where the double lung transplant will take place is in Newcastle.

Her husband, Jim, has been told by his employer that they are happy to give him as much time off work to be with, and support Helen, for as long as possible. However, it will be unpaid.

Hence, I feel the need to set up this campaign - to help cover the costs of the accommodation in Newcastle, as well as knowing that their mortgage and bills still need to be covered.

Any contribution towards this will be massively appreciated by Helen and Jim - even if it's just a share on social media!

N.B: I (Susan) have no access to the donations - only Helen and Jim will. I am just managing the page, and will update you all as soon as I have any updates.

 

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Donations 

  • Janice Robertson
    • £10 
    • 2 yrs
  • Carolyn McGrath
    • £25 
    • 2 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • £50 
    • 2 yrs
  • Geoff Whittam
    • £20 
    • 2 yrs
  • andrew reid
    • £300 
    • 2 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Susan Sutton
Organizer
Scotland
Jim Ward
Beneficiary

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