Shaquia's Double Lung Transplant

First and foremost, my family thanks you for taking the time to read this. This may come as a shock to some of you, but unfortunately as of today Shaquia is officially on a transplant list as a top priority to receive a set of new lungs.

On March 25th Shaquia was rushed to Valley Hospital unable to breathe. Once she arrived the doctors provided her with all necessary antibiotics to kill what they thought was a mild infection in the lungs. Throughout the night Shaquia developed a fever and her breathing became very rapid therefore putting a lot of stress on her heart and lungs. The doctors thought it would be best to put her on a ventilator giving her body a chance to rest. The next day she took a turn for the worst as the doctors said her lungs are not getting better and there was nothing more they can do. Our family would not accept that as a final answer. We insisted she needed to be moved to another hospital. We were successful in having her transferred to Montefiore Medical Center.

Montefiore is ranked in the top ten best hospitals in New York for lung and respiratory conditions. That same day Shaquia was placed on an Ecmo machine, which is an artificial pulmonary machine, that helps give the proper oxygen to her blood and organs. This has been a lifesaver and has given her doctors time to look deeper into what was causing damage to her lungs. After a lot of sleepless nights, tests and prayers they were able to find the root cause of this unexplainable disease. 

She has been diagnosed with Dermatomyositis, it is an autoimmune condition that causes skin changes, muscle weakness and progressive scarring of lung tissue, making the lungs stiff and inelastic. Eventually it affects your ability to breathe all together and get enough oxygen into your bloodstream. Once lung scarring occurs, it is generally irreversible. Medications may slow the damage of this lung disease, but unfortunately in Shaquia’s case we are way beyond medications helping. She will never regain full use of her lungs and will need a lung transplant in order to survive. 

    Shaquia is an amazing mother, wife, daughter, and friend. Her biggest desire, we are sure is to come home and be with her son and family.  Every little bit will help during this very difficult time and will increase her chances of a full recovery.  We will be extremely grateful for all your prayers and support. 

The money received through donation will help with living and medical expenses. The family needs our monetary support to cover the costs of outrageous prescription costs post-transplant, co pays, parking fees, commuting to and from the hospital in the upcoming months and the long-term loss of income as she battles this disease.

 


With deepest gratitude, 
Her loving Family