Dawn's Lung Fund
Donation protected
Hello my name is Dawn Lauzon. I am a wife, mother of two daughters, a new grandmother, a daughter to my Mom, and a sister to my one younger brother. I am 51 years old, have worked many years as a Registered Nurse and Instructor and after taking care of people for most of my life, now I find myself in need of help. I have never ever thought I would need to start a GoFundMe page to ask for help but I have no other way.
I have been diagnosed with COPD, (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) a chronic lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. The disease is increasingly common, and is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. I do not smoke and have not smoked in many years. In June of 2014, I became very sick at work and could not keep working ,which was unlike me. I was very ill and my breathing was labored and getting worse. I was dying and I knew it. We got to the hospital and my oxygen saturation was very low. I ended up being diagnosed with Pneumonia and my COPD had now progressed from moderate to the severe status. I was started on oxygen at 3 Liters and I am still on continuous oxygen... it will be 2 years this June 2016. I was praying the oxygen was temporary but my lungs are so damaged that I can't go without my oxygen. I am thankful to have the oxygen but I worry all the time that my power will go out and my concentrator won't work.. I am unable to return to work right now and I pay every month to keep my insurance through my job but there are some things my insurance does not pay for like this stem cell procedure.
I recently learned about stem cell treatments for COPD and that they are showing promise. Their treatments use the regenerative properties of stem cells with the goal of improving quality of life and lung function. The place is called The Lung Institute and the closest one to me is in Pennsylvania. It's a three day treatment... Here is info about the procedure. It's very interesting.
https://lunginstitute.com/treatment/
Insurance does not cover it because it's a fairly new process... The Lung Institute suggested I do this GoFundMe to help with the costs. I agreed with my doctor when he said, it's less invasive than a lung transplant and those are my only options to live... I still plan on being evaluated for a transplant in case I have to go that route but I really want to get the stem cell treatment done. It shows promise in helping me to be able to breathe and many patients don't need to be on oxygen after the treatments take effect. That would be nice returning to a "wireless" way of breathing oxygen.. like everyone else. :)
I am fairly young, most people with my disease aren't diagnosed until they are like 65 and I was only 40 when they diagnosed me with moderate COPD. I am only 51 right now and even though I feel like an old lady and look like one on my oxygen, I want to live as long as I can with some kind of quality of life. I have two daughters, a husband, and a grandson that I love with all of my heart.. I have a Mom and "little" brother than mean the world to me.. these people, my family are devastated, heart broken that my life will be cut short. My Mom always tells me that a child is not suppose to die before the parent... I should be helping her at her age not her trying to help me! There is no cure for my lung disease... you can't cure it with chemo or radiation... I have an option to try this stem cell procedure, that I think would help a lot... but I can't do it without you. I really need any help that you can spare. Please help us, I just want to be able to breathe, literally.
I thank you for any help that you can give and if you can't help, I thank you for taking the time to read about my situation and I ask you to remember me in your prayers. Thank you so very much for lending me your "ear".
I have been diagnosed with COPD, (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) a chronic lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. The disease is increasingly common, and is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. I do not smoke and have not smoked in many years. In June of 2014, I became very sick at work and could not keep working ,which was unlike me. I was very ill and my breathing was labored and getting worse. I was dying and I knew it. We got to the hospital and my oxygen saturation was very low. I ended up being diagnosed with Pneumonia and my COPD had now progressed from moderate to the severe status. I was started on oxygen at 3 Liters and I am still on continuous oxygen... it will be 2 years this June 2016. I was praying the oxygen was temporary but my lungs are so damaged that I can't go without my oxygen. I am thankful to have the oxygen but I worry all the time that my power will go out and my concentrator won't work.. I am unable to return to work right now and I pay every month to keep my insurance through my job but there are some things my insurance does not pay for like this stem cell procedure.
I recently learned about stem cell treatments for COPD and that they are showing promise. Their treatments use the regenerative properties of stem cells with the goal of improving quality of life and lung function. The place is called The Lung Institute and the closest one to me is in Pennsylvania. It's a three day treatment... Here is info about the procedure. It's very interesting.
https://lunginstitute.com/treatment/
Insurance does not cover it because it's a fairly new process... The Lung Institute suggested I do this GoFundMe to help with the costs. I agreed with my doctor when he said, it's less invasive than a lung transplant and those are my only options to live... I still plan on being evaluated for a transplant in case I have to go that route but I really want to get the stem cell treatment done. It shows promise in helping me to be able to breathe and many patients don't need to be on oxygen after the treatments take effect. That would be nice returning to a "wireless" way of breathing oxygen.. like everyone else. :)
I am fairly young, most people with my disease aren't diagnosed until they are like 65 and I was only 40 when they diagnosed me with moderate COPD. I am only 51 right now and even though I feel like an old lady and look like one on my oxygen, I want to live as long as I can with some kind of quality of life. I have two daughters, a husband, and a grandson that I love with all of my heart.. I have a Mom and "little" brother than mean the world to me.. these people, my family are devastated, heart broken that my life will be cut short. My Mom always tells me that a child is not suppose to die before the parent... I should be helping her at her age not her trying to help me! There is no cure for my lung disease... you can't cure it with chemo or radiation... I have an option to try this stem cell procedure, that I think would help a lot... but I can't do it without you. I really need any help that you can spare. Please help us, I just want to be able to breathe, literally.
I thank you for any help that you can give and if you can't help, I thank you for taking the time to read about my situation and I ask you to remember me in your prayers. Thank you so very much for lending me your "ear".
Organizer
Dawn Lauzon
Organizer
Trenton, MI