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Katrina Mae was travelling to Denver to go on a rafting trip in Glenwood Springs, Colorado in June. During her trip she began to feel very short of breath. Her fingernails and lips started turning blue. She could hardly walk 20 feet with out stopping to catch her breath. She was taken to the ER on June 11, 2019. When she arrived they found the oxygen saturation in her blood was 65% (Normally a person should be above 92%). She was immediately placed on supplemental oxygen and given some breathing treatments. She was admitted to the University of Colorado for further testing. After a CT scan was completed the doctors informed her that she had something called interstitial lung disease (ILD), and that her case was severe. She would need a biopsy to determine the exact kind of interstitial lung disease. (There are many different types.) She was discharged with an oxygen concentrator after several days stay and sent back to Sacramento, California.
Once she got home she was determined not to let this stop her so she went back to work and proceeded living her life. This consisted of hauling 4-5 oxygen tanks with her everywhere she went. She got set up with a local pulmonologist who scheduled a VATS wedge biopsy. On July 17, 2019 she had the VATS at Mercy San Juan. She had a chest tube for a day. After they were able to remove it she was discharged home. 3 days later she was taken back to the hospital because her oxygen saturation levels were dipping as low as 45% with any movement, like walking from the couch to the bathroom. She was admitted to Mercy San Juan again for pneumonia, a common complication after the type of procedure she had. After receiving heavy duty antibiotics for 5 days she was discharged home again. She continued to struggle with walking any sort of distance.
During the second hospitalization at Mercy San Juan she received the biopsy results. The doctor informed her that she had a type of ILD called Non Specific Interstitial Pneumonitis (NSIP) which was in the second stage/fibrotic stage. The fibrotic stage means that her lung tissue consists mainly of scarring. Which is why she was having difficultly breathing. They told her on July 27, 2019 that the only treatment option at this point is a lung transplant. No medications would help reverse the fibrosis or scarring. Her pulmonologist referred her to the University of California in San Francisco's lung transplant program. She was able to get in quickly and was seen on August 8, 2019. After interviews and assessments the doctors at UCSF felt she was to sick and requiring too much oxygen to return home. That she needed to remain in the hospital until she received a lung transplant.
Katrina will be out of work for an unknown amount of time. The average cost of a lung transplant is around 800,000 to 900,000 dollars. Most of this will be covered by insurance there are some care cost and daily living expenses that are not covered by insurance. Katrina and I will need to relocate to the San Fran area for an unknown amount of time, possibly for up to a year. This is due to the frequent testing she will need to ensure she is not in rejection. And making sure she is not getting any sort of infections related to the immunosuppressant medications she will have to take for the rest of her life. Her family and I are ready to help her get past this hurdle and on the road to recovery! This is the start of a long journey. Any sort of support is appreciated whether its prayers, hospital visits, or monetary donations!
Once she got home she was determined not to let this stop her so she went back to work and proceeded living her life. This consisted of hauling 4-5 oxygen tanks with her everywhere she went. She got set up with a local pulmonologist who scheduled a VATS wedge biopsy. On July 17, 2019 she had the VATS at Mercy San Juan. She had a chest tube for a day. After they were able to remove it she was discharged home. 3 days later she was taken back to the hospital because her oxygen saturation levels were dipping as low as 45% with any movement, like walking from the couch to the bathroom. She was admitted to Mercy San Juan again for pneumonia, a common complication after the type of procedure she had. After receiving heavy duty antibiotics for 5 days she was discharged home again. She continued to struggle with walking any sort of distance.
During the second hospitalization at Mercy San Juan she received the biopsy results. The doctor informed her that she had a type of ILD called Non Specific Interstitial Pneumonitis (NSIP) which was in the second stage/fibrotic stage. The fibrotic stage means that her lung tissue consists mainly of scarring. Which is why she was having difficultly breathing. They told her on July 27, 2019 that the only treatment option at this point is a lung transplant. No medications would help reverse the fibrosis or scarring. Her pulmonologist referred her to the University of California in San Francisco's lung transplant program. She was able to get in quickly and was seen on August 8, 2019. After interviews and assessments the doctors at UCSF felt she was to sick and requiring too much oxygen to return home. That she needed to remain in the hospital until she received a lung transplant.
Katrina will be out of work for an unknown amount of time. The average cost of a lung transplant is around 800,000 to 900,000 dollars. Most of this will be covered by insurance there are some care cost and daily living expenses that are not covered by insurance. Katrina and I will need to relocate to the San Fran area for an unknown amount of time, possibly for up to a year. This is due to the frequent testing she will need to ensure she is not in rejection. And making sure she is not getting any sort of infections related to the immunosuppressant medications she will have to take for the rest of her life. Her family and I are ready to help her get past this hurdle and on the road to recovery! This is the start of a long journey. Any sort of support is appreciated whether its prayers, hospital visits, or monetary donations!