Health Update on Jeff’s double lung transplant (financial assistance still needed)

It’s been quite the journey for Jeff after his double lung transplant on May 3, 2023. He thought it was time to give you all a Health Update on his health status and because financial assistance is still needed.

Kindly share. As I approached the six month mark from the date of my transplant, I felt like I was finally able to look at what the journey has been like, how I’m managing, and to share thoughts about what lies ahead.

As most people know, after my double lung transplant, I stayed at the Gift of Life Organ Transplant House. Gift of Life requires transplant recipients to have a caregiver staying with them for the entire 90 days. My sister Deb and my two friends David and Dale filled those roles. I will be forever grateful for their commitment and assistance.

Caretakers assist with everything from cooking meals, clean-up, room cleaning, laundry, traveling to appointments, and pushing me in a wheelchair throughout the numerous buildings in the Mayo Clinic complex. Monday through Friday we were busy going from one appointment or exams that usually consumed the entire day. It was demanding on everyone involved but we finally got through those 90 days and I was able to return home.

During the first six months home there were numerous follow up appointments, I’ve been returning to Mayo Clinic, almost weekly, for the past three months. During that time, I encountered complications with wounds around my ankles from blisters due to edema.

In addition, I’ve had six Thoracentesis’ (a procedure where they insert a needle in my back and draw out fluid that has built up in the lung/ chest cavity). The problem with this procedure is that it can introduce bacteria into the area, and this did happen in late November. So, I spent the entire week of Thanksgiving in the hospital with a tube in my back as they drained the fluid and treated me with anti-biotics.

The good news is that I am alive and feeling quite healthy. I’ve taken myself back to the gym and am working to regain my strength and even planning to return to part time work. Once I am back to work, I’ll be in a better position to pay many of the ongoing expenses related to my transplant and I am looking forward to this.

In the past two weeks my transplant team reviewed recent chest x-rays, blood tests, pulmonary function tests and more. It was determined that in order to remove fluid buildup in my chest (under my right lung) it was best to install a Pleural Catheter just under the skin in my chest area. This will allow me to drain fluid in the chest cavity at home. Outpatient surgery to install the Catheter is scheduled for Monday January 8th. Because it is outpatient and uses only a local anesthetic, Jeff plans to drive himself to the procedure and back home again.

This process should create a drier environment inside the chest and allow the right lung to relax and drop into the area. The drier environment also allows the lung to adhere to the sides of the chest cavity and secure its space. Hopefully this explanation provides enough detail to understand what is happening currently while not going into too much more detail.

I asked that this updated GoFundMe request be sent out (by my sister) to help me with current medical expenses. We do not foresee (God willing) additional requests in the future. We are also fully aware that every one of us have our own challenges are doing your best to meet expenses and live your lives the best that you can so, even if its $5 anything helps.

Until now, I have not been able to work and the countless follow-up appointments at Mayo, including a that week in the hospital over Thanksgiving, created expenses that insurance and savings just does not cover. As health permits, I am also pursuing 2 part time jobs to get through this.

Again, I thank you in advance to anyone who contributes to this current round of GoFundMe.

We look forward to sharing the success of these upcoming procedures with updates on this GoFundMe page.

Sincerely

Jeff Larson & (his sister) Deb Eggenberger