Lungs for Chris

My name is Christopher Arendt. I was born with a genetic disorder called Cystic Fibrosis back in February of 1992. I have had many hospital stays, surgeries, check ups, medicines.... everything youc an think of that is involved in having a chronic illness from birth. Through all of this I have lived what I would call a semi normal life until after I graduated high school then my health took a turn in the southern direction. Lung function has steadily went down, have had kidney failure, developed diabetes, and had exploratory bowl surgery, and even nose surgery to remove growths called pollups that grow in my nasal cavities a few times. Through all of this I have persevered.... But.... In November I was told by my doctor that I was at what is called End Stage Cystic Fibrosis which is what happens when your lung function gets bad enough, and they began to talk about calling comfort care because I did not have insurance. (I Lost it when I couldn't work anymore, and the Social Security Administration denied me Medicaid coverage.) They don't give transplants to people without insurance because of the cost. So, I decided the only thing to do was to move in with my mom in North Carolina and to get on her insurance as a dependent if I wanted to live. I moved to Charlotte in January and began going to Duke University for the transplant evaluation. Everything was going smoothly until I got DIOS halfway through the evaluation and had to have surgery on my bowls because they had frozen up due to the testing. (it's hard on your body to do the testing necessary.) Well I made it through that, but not before I lost 15 pounds and was at the weight of 109. Shortly after in April, I had a feeding tube placed and since then I have gained my weight back to 134 pounds, and my lung function has gone from 17 percent in November to 26 percent today. I have started the rehab Duke requires for the transplant, and am 100 percent stronger because of it and also I have recently been listed.  Once the transplant occurs. They are doing to monitor me very close because I will be taking anti-rejection drugs, steroids, vitamins, and a few other drugs that is hard on the kidneys but is crucial to keep the new lungs from rejecting. I will again have rehab after the surgery and my recovery will be slow but will be well worth it. I will have my life back and I'll no longer need to carry around oxygen and be sick with lung infections like I have had over the past few years. 

*had lung transplant July 19th 2018. 
Check updates for more information. 


I would like to thank most importantly God and my savior Jesus Christ. He has brought this opportunity before me so that I can share the great things that he can do if you just have faith.
Second, I would like to thank everybody that has donated. This is my second fundraiser and I am still in need of funding, but I raised enough for them to accept me into the program. I achieved that goal but I still need a few thousand for living expenses.  Even a dollar will be greatly appreciated.
#cflife #donatelife #lungsforchris #cfwontbethedeathofme #doublelungtransplant #listed