Help Christie Breathe Again: Support Her Lung Transplant

**Christie's Journey: A Fight for Life and a Plea for Help**

Hello, beautiful souls! I'd like to share the story of a remarkable woman named Christie, who also happens to be family. Christie is 49 years young, a devoted wife, and a loving mother to three amazing children. She’s also a proud grandmother to three wonderful grandkids who bring immense joy to her life. Christie is now on a new path—awaiting a double lung transplant that could save her life.

Christie once filled her days with the things she loved, like attending country music concerts, enjoying the great outdoors through camping and boating, and cherishing lake life with her family. However, life threw her an unexpected and challenging curveball.

Nineteen years ago, Christie was diagnosed with COPD, and in 2014, she received even more heartbreaking news—she has idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This rare, chronic, and progressive disease has gradually been taking away her ability to breathe. IPF causes the lungs to harden, severely restricting the flow of oxygen into the bloodstream. To give some perspective, IPF typically affects people in their 70s or older, but Christie was diagnosed at just 38. The median survival rate for this condition is only 2 to 5 years, and while Christie has bravely exceeded those odds, the harsh reality of this disease remains ever-present.

There is no known cause for IPF, and currently, no cure—except for one: a double lung transplant. This procedure represents Christie’s only chance to reclaim her breath and her life. It’s her hope for a future where she can see her grandchildren grow, share in precious family moments, and return to the simple joys of life.

After enduring six challenging months of tests and procedures, Christie has received the news that she has been approved for the transplant list. She could be officially added as early as next week! The waiting period for a suitable match is typically between 2 weeks to 4 months. But there is a heavy truth that accompanies this: for Christie to receive a transplant, another life must be lost.

While transplants are miraculous, they also bring substantial costs—both financial and emotional. The journey ahead is long, involving a lifetime of costly immunosuppression medication, frequent doctor visits, hospital stays, and at least three months in Columbus for close monitoring and rehabilitation after the surgery. Christie's husband, her steadfast rock and caregiver, will be by her side, but they will need help with lost wages, transportation, lodging, and the overwhelming medical expenses.

This is where we humbly ask for help. We reaching out to the community, to friends, loved ones, and compassionate strangers, for support. Your donations could make a tremendous difference in their fight—Christie’s fight—to overcome this disease and live the life she dearly wants to hold onto.

We promise to keep everyone updated every step of the way—from when Christie is officially listed, to the moment they receive the call, and through the surgery and recovery process.

From the depths of our hearts, we thank you for considering supporting Christie and her family during this incredibly difficult time. Your kindness, whether through a donation, prayers, or by simply sharing her story, means more than words can express.

With deepest gratitude and hope,

Christie's Family and Friends