Help Marcene Breathe Again: Support Her Lung Transplant

Hi, my name is Jake and most of you know my mom, Marcene. Most of you know my mom from HS, work, as my #1 Cheerleader or as a Breast cancer survivor

We thought Breast Cancer was the battle to beat and she did .. but in 2020 my mom was diagnosed with an autoimmune illness - Interstitial Lung Disease. This autoimmune illness has slowly robbed my mom of the oxygen capacity her lungs need to function due to scarring and fibrosis. Because it is autoimmune there is NO cure. Medications slow the fibrosis down but eventually the scarring will take its toll. Last July, she caught Covid and Bacterial Pneumonia which only exacerbated her lung disease and has made for a challenging year of recovery.

At this moment, my mom has been given 3-5 years provided she doesn’t get terribly sick again. Thankfully, there is medical intervention that can help prolong her time and give her a better quality of life when it comes to breathing and basic every day tasks…. A double lung transplant.

Kaiser partners with UCSF when it comes to transplants and my mom is at the end of the diagnostics and lab tests evaluation phase. Soon she will be given a score by the Transplant team and that will designate her place her on the National Donor Recipient list (UNOS)… and we will wait for that phone call that says she has a donor match

The gift of new lungs comes with a financial burden that no one can ever expect, plan or prepare for in this life. After surgery and hospital discharge, UCSF will require my mom to relocate for 2 months to SF and have a caregiver with her 24/7 during that time for daily / weekly appts at the hospital - until she is discharged to be on her own and take care of herself. They have a strict “No bridge between the patient and hospital rule”

Relocation will cost upwards of $8000 just for her lodging in SF. Gas, meals and medications (40 different ones to prevent her from rejecting the new lungs) and maintaining our current residence (mtg and utilities) are additional expenses. And while some expenses are covered by her medical benefits - others are out of pocket. These are the short term expenses- my mom still faces the next 12 months of appointments to UCSF, copays and anti rejection medications. The first year is the most crucial to get through as this is where rejection can occur.

While my mom is a very proud and very stubborn woman - and of course hates asking for any sort of help - cause if you know her - she’d rather just do it herself .. I am not beyond asking .. because she is my mom.

Most know I will always fiercely protect my mom. And I will do whatever I can to ease her stress so that she can concentrate on the road ahead of her… which is why I am creating this Go Fund Me. When that donor match comes in - I want my mom to go into that OR knowing “we got this!”

Whether you are able to donate or just keep my mom in your prayers - both mean the world to us and we will always be forever grateful and appreciative. Pinky Promise!

Thank you!

Jake