Mary Needs New(er) Lungs

Hello all!

This is Caitlin and Tessa, Mary’s daughters. Many know that our mom has a genetic lung disease called Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, which affects her lungs and liver. She was lucky enough to receive a double lung transplant in 2018 after being on the national transplant list for two years prior, but unfortunately she went into chronic rejection two years post transplant due to complications with her natural antibodies attacking her donor lungs. 

The life expectancy of someone who receives a double lung transplant is five years and she was lucky enough to surpass that even while being in rejection and although she made the necessary changes (even more medications, infusion therapy, plasmapheresis and even chemotherapy) her new lungs could not keep up and have become severely damaged, which has affected her current quality of life again, she’s recently been put back on oxygen again. 

Since her transplant she was able to meet her two grandchildren, Stevie and Scottie and spend quality time with them, which she never imagined was possible pre transplant and is not ready to give that joy up. Because of the progressive worsening of symptoms, her doctors have highly recommended that she have another transplant. In order to be eligible for another transplant, she must be reevaluated for two weeks at the end of April to jumpstart the process of her being put back on the transplant list. The only reason she was able to get the first transplant was from all the support and donations she received from her friends and family. Without the help of others she won’t be able to go through with another transplant. She would like to be around much longer for her husband, four children and to see her grandchildren continue grow (duhhhh) and any support helps!! All money will be going towards her evaluation and the rest will be held in a savings account awaiting transplant to help with any and all financial burdens that may arise.

She has always been extremely independent and hates asking others for help especially financially but without this we aren’t sure how much longer we will have our mom around.

Anything helps, and we understand not everyone will be able to contribute financially, but well wishes, thoughts and light sent her way are extremely appreciated!!

Much Love and Thanks,

Caitlin and Tessa

(and the rest of our extremely grateful family )