Kris's Life Is Just a Breath Away

My name is Karen. I am the oldest of six siblings all of whom  I love very much. Our father worked four jobs at one time to make sure that we were all fed and clothed, teaching us to take care of ourselves which is why it is hard to ask for help, but it is time to swallow some pride and just do it. 
I am writing on behalf of my sister Kris Repp. She is fourth in the line of six children. Last year we lost a sister to cancer. It was hard to lose a younger sibling.. she was only 58. You always think that you should be first, and I cannot lose another one.
Kris is 55 and really in the prime of her life. She was married for the first time in 1982. Kris and her husband had two boys, Josh and Travis. That marriage was short lived when her husband passed away due to a drowning accident in 1992. Therefore she was forced to raise her two boys on her own. Working a full time, and part time job, she made it work, like she always does. She met her second husband in highschool and then reconnected, and started a relationship in 1993. They married in 1995 and had a daughter, Alison in 1997. More than anything in this world she has always yearned for a grandchild. Two years ago she was blessed with a granddaughter Evelyn Rose. When you have a grandchild believe me they are your everything, and believe me Evelyn is Kris's everything! Kris wants to be the best grandma ever, unfortunately she is in need of a double lung transplant and struggles for every breath. That is why I am writing this today, to ask for any financial help that can be afforded. 
Kris is strong so I know that she will get through this. Stubborn and determined too which will help a lot! She has a lot to live for and a lot to look forward to. She has an infectious laugh and always looks to help others with a heart worth more than gold. She has housed people that didn't have a place to stay, always giving to different charities and organizations, always putting others before herself.
In 2007 Kris had a tubal ligation which caused an infection and led to a full hysterectomy and appendix removal. That in turn caused her to become septic leading to the need for a colostomy bag. This included a stay of five and a half weeks in the hospital, intubated for two weeks. One year later she had a colostomy reversal which went well.
In 2012 at the age of 47 she was determined to have a career and started school. I remember going to visit and she would be engulfed in memorizing flashcards, sharing the content while I pretended to understand. In this same year Kris experienced her first lung collapse on the left side spending a week in the hospital with chest tubes. A week later her follow up x-ray had showed that it had collapsed again making it medically necessary to surgically repair. 
In 2014 Kris was in her last semester of school when her right lung collapsed which led to another week stay in the hospital with chest tubes. After returning home for about 6 hours her lung collapsed again, resulting in an ambulance ride and no choice but to postpone her studies. In the fall of 2014 she resumed her schooling. Although she had to begin the semester again, she did with determination and successfully graduated at the age of 50 to become, of all things, a Respiratory Therapist. Kris was able to secure a job after only 6 months at a ThedaCare hospital near home. She quickly fell in love with her career, her coworkers, and her patients, as they fell in love with her.
Unfortunately the ability to breathe without oxygen was becoming increasingly difficult. Things that we take for granted such as a simple shower, running around, or even walking with Evelyn, she is no longer able to enjoy without transporting a machine and adjusting tubing. All without complaints, and with that infectious smile. In 2019 Kris's doctors presented her with a choice of a double lung transplant or maybe 3 years of life. This has been an incredibly hard decision because the transplant is not a guarantee of life and she is bothered that someone else will lose their life to give her the breath of life. After struggling with making a decision for many months, the thought of just maybe having the ability to run with Evelyn in the backyard, go to the swimming pool and joining her for some water fun, and just taking a plain old shower without the worry of a machine and tubing, she came to the difficult decision of going through with the lung transplant. This started the process of numerous tests to ensure the compatibility of the transplant. After passing all tests, a transplant team is on her case and she is officially awaiting "the call". Kris's last test showed a huge decrease in lung function over the last 6 months. At the end of December her FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume) was 29%. At her appointment on June 2nd her FEV1 was 19%, which means she had a 10% decrease in her lung function in a short 6 months. Every dollar will help in Kris's Breath of Life Journey. There will be at least a two week stay at the hospital, followed by a two week stay away from home close to the hospital. Many hospital and doctor bills, pharmacy, follow up visits, and most likely many unexpected expenses. She has also been informed that there is a possibility of a dry run. This is when she gets the call, arrives to the hospital and is prepped, only to find out that the organs will not work or are not for her.
I am asking on behalf of my sister for any help as she is a giver, not a taker. My hope is to relieve her of any extra worries. I am also asking for all of your prayers, and please consider becoming a donor. Thank you for reading Kris's story and we will keep everyone updated on her progress. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity!