Help Support Nancy's Journey to Recovery: A Life-Saving Lung Transplant

Dear friends, family, and compassionate strangers,

We are reaching out to share the incredible journey of our mother, Nancy, and to ask for your support during a critical time in her life. Nancy, a beloved Long Island native from Massapequa Park, has always been a pillar of strength and love for her family. She is the proud mother of five children and grandmother to eight beautiful grandchildren, and she’s always been there to support us all.

However, in August 2024, Nancy’s world changed when she traveled to South Carolina to meet her eighth grandbaby. While there, she began to feel unwell, and she knew something wasn’t right. She quickly returned to Long Island, and in September, she was hospitalized after experiencing severe shortness of breath. Within days, Nancy was diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), an incurable condition that causes irreversible scarring of the lungs.

The doctors informed her that she would need to rely on an oxygen machine for the rest of her life, and eventually, she would need a lung transplant. At that point, Nancy was discharged to begin adjusting to life with oxygen. Devastatingly, the disease progressed rapidly, and by November 2024, Nancy was in critical condition and rushed back to the hospital. Despite weeks of invasive tests and uncertainty, doctors informed us that she was not initially considered a candidate for a transplant due to the high risk of rejection.

But in a moment of hope, Nancy's case was presented to multiple hospitals across New York. Just five days later, she was accepted and transferred to NYU Langone Health, the world-renowned #1 lung transplant center in the country. Under the care of the extraordinary Dr. Angel and his transplant team, Nancy underwent a week of rigorous testing. On November 26th, she was placed on the national transplant waitlist.

The very next day, on Thanksgiving Day, we received the incredible news that lungs had been found. However, just hours before the surgery, the transplant team discovered the donor had undiagnosed cancer, and the surgery was canceled. Nancy was immediately re-listed, and just two days later, we were thrilled to receive the call that another set of lungs had been found.

On December 1st, 2024, Nancy underwent a successful bilateral lung transplant. While the road to recovery will be long and difficult, Nancy is now on the path to a new life.

The Road to Recovery

Nancy will spend the next four weeks in the ICU at NYU Langone, where she will receive round-the-clock care as her body adjusts to her new lungs. After that, she will be transferred to a rehabilitation center for another two weeks to continue her recovery.

The journey ahead will require Nancy to take lifelong medication to prevent her body from rejecting the donor lungs. These immunosuppressants are critical, but they come with the challenge of making her extremely vulnerable to infections. She will need to be extra cautious, taking the necessary precautions to protect her health for the rest of her life.

The Financial Strain

As Nancy continues her recovery, she will need regular follow-up appointments at NYU Langone, which will require travel to Manhattan weekly once she is discharged. This will create a significant financial burden on our family, as we will need to cover the costs of transportation, accommodation, medical expenses, and medications.

We are asking for your support to help Nancy through this difficult time. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will go directly toward her medical expenses, recovery costs, and ongoing treatments. Your support will help us ensure Nancy can focus on healing and spending precious time with her children and grandchildren, rather than worrying about the financial strain.

A Remarkable Woman

Nancy has shown immense strength and resilience throughout her life. Over the past decade, she has undergone multiple surgeries, including hip replacements and a knee replacement. One nurse once told her after one of her hip surgeries that she was "Superwoman" because of how quickly she recovered. Even in her darkest hours, Nancy has kept that mindset. Right up until the day before her transplant, she kept telling everyone, "I am Superwoman, I can do this."

Nancy's Passions

Nancy's passions are simple yet beautiful: she loves spending time with her grandchildren, being outdoors, and collecting shells and sea glass from the beach. In fact, she enjoys creating stunning works of art with her collections—something that brings her so much joy and allows her to express herself. Now, more than ever, she dreams of creating more art with her family by her side.

How You Can Help

We are asking for your support in any way you can. Whether it's a donation, sharing Nancy's story, or sending her words of encouragement, everything helps. We believe in the power of community, and with your help, Nancy can continue her recovery and return to the things she loves most—her family and her art.

Thank You

Thank you for reading Nancy's story and for your kindness and generosity during this challenging time. We are forever grateful for your support.

With heartfelt thanks,Nancy's Family

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