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My name is Carmen, and I am asking for help for my beautiful friend Leanne Wark. Leanne is a wonderful 41 year old mother of one, daughter, sister, aunt, spouse, and amazing friend to many. She works in the community as a support worker with special needs individuals, helping them with their daily needs.
Several years ago Leanne was told she had a lung disease. She endured years of evasive and painful testing only be told they can't be sure exactly what it is. She is told it is similar to "Heavy Metal Lung Disease" which involves her lungs hardening so that they are unable to function as they need to. The Dr's don't know how she got it, why she got it, or exactly what it is, but they do know her lungs can no longer function and she needs a new set.
Leanne has been off work for almost 2 years now as her disease progressed and she found it harder to be able to breath. She's been on Oxygen for almost as long. She was placed on the transplant list in early September at the highest priority. Unfortunatley, she was hospitlized in Brandon approximately 3 weeks ago and last week was sent to Winnipeg for further help. Her disease continues to progress and Dr's have decided that she needs to be on Life Support to allow her mind and body to rest and conserve oxygen. She will have a machine breathing for her during this time, and will be heavily sedated while she waits for her new lungs. She is being placed on Life Support today.
Once there are lungs available that will work for Leanne, she will be flown to Edmonton to have the transplant and will remain there for several weeks. Once stable she will be transported back to Winnipeg hospital and wil spend several more weeks there recovering until she's able to be discharged from hospital. At that point she will need to stay wihin 1 hour of Winnipeg for several more weeks or months until she is deemed safe to go home. All together this will be months and months away from home for her and her family.
Leanne is required to have a support person with her at all times. Her partner Randy and sister Geri have taken time away from their jobs to be with her around the clock. They have already spent a fortune on hotels, meals, gas and parking these last 3 weeks and these costs will continue to rise to include flights to Edmonton. They will be spending thousands each month, even using the discounted rates available to family members of patients and it is already taking a financial toll. The last thing anyone needs when caring for a critically ill loved one is the extreme financial burden that comes with taking time off work and having to maintain a household while living in another city and eating hospital meals all day long. All funds raised will be accessed only by the family and used to cover their costs of living at the hospital(s) while Leanne waits and recovers. They will also be used to pay for Leanne to live in Winnipeg or Portage following her transplant and travel to HSC Winnipeg daily for as long as she needs to.
Leanne is such a wonderful person and an amazing friend and needs all the prayers, love, and positive thoughts she can get! Leanne and her family are proud and would never ask for help on their own, but they need it!! Please help support Leanne by helping her loved ones as they support her while she waits for a new lease on life! Thank you!
Several years ago Leanne was told she had a lung disease. She endured years of evasive and painful testing only be told they can't be sure exactly what it is. She is told it is similar to "Heavy Metal Lung Disease" which involves her lungs hardening so that they are unable to function as they need to. The Dr's don't know how she got it, why she got it, or exactly what it is, but they do know her lungs can no longer function and she needs a new set.
Leanne has been off work for almost 2 years now as her disease progressed and she found it harder to be able to breath. She's been on Oxygen for almost as long. She was placed on the transplant list in early September at the highest priority. Unfortunatley, she was hospitlized in Brandon approximately 3 weeks ago and last week was sent to Winnipeg for further help. Her disease continues to progress and Dr's have decided that she needs to be on Life Support to allow her mind and body to rest and conserve oxygen. She will have a machine breathing for her during this time, and will be heavily sedated while she waits for her new lungs. She is being placed on Life Support today.
Once there are lungs available that will work for Leanne, she will be flown to Edmonton to have the transplant and will remain there for several weeks. Once stable she will be transported back to Winnipeg hospital and wil spend several more weeks there recovering until she's able to be discharged from hospital. At that point she will need to stay wihin 1 hour of Winnipeg for several more weeks or months until she is deemed safe to go home. All together this will be months and months away from home for her and her family.
Leanne is required to have a support person with her at all times. Her partner Randy and sister Geri have taken time away from their jobs to be with her around the clock. They have already spent a fortune on hotels, meals, gas and parking these last 3 weeks and these costs will continue to rise to include flights to Edmonton. They will be spending thousands each month, even using the discounted rates available to family members of patients and it is already taking a financial toll. The last thing anyone needs when caring for a critically ill loved one is the extreme financial burden that comes with taking time off work and having to maintain a household while living in another city and eating hospital meals all day long. All funds raised will be accessed only by the family and used to cover their costs of living at the hospital(s) while Leanne waits and recovers. They will also be used to pay for Leanne to live in Winnipeg or Portage following her transplant and travel to HSC Winnipeg daily for as long as she needs to.
Leanne is such a wonderful person and an amazing friend and needs all the prayers, love, and positive thoughts she can get! Leanne and her family are proud and would never ask for help on their own, but they need it!! Please help support Leanne by helping her loved ones as they support her while she waits for a new lease on life! Thank you!