Mom's Double Lung Transplant

I know many of you know my Mom, Donna Moran-Casey. As well as how amazing she is!

What a lot of you may not know is she was diagnosed with Stage 3 emphysema in 2013 and has been working hard to stay as healthy and as strong as possible since then. She had managed to remain stable for years by working out and riding her bike on Rails-to-trails (her favorite place). She also worked more than full time and managed to travel to Florida several times a year to visit me and my family. You really would have never guessed she was as sick as she was. She's just that strong.

All of that changed when she participated in a study to expand her lung capacity in 2021. Complications from the study made her health decline pretty quickly (especially her breathing). The last few years have been long and hard. There have been many ups and downs and she has endured many health issues. Yet she has managed to fight hard though it all!

Her pulmonologist referred her for a double lung transplant as she only has 30% remaining lung function that will only continue to decrease. She has spent the last year undergoing a series of testing to be sure she is strong enough to go through the 12 hour surgery.

On March 12th she was listed for a double lung transplant. During this surgery they will remove her diseased lungs one at a time and replace them with the donor lungs.

Yesterday March 17th she got an offer for a set of lungs. (She was only on the transplant list for 5 days!) Today March 18th she is having her surgery. She will be in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 3-5 days. From there, she will go to an inpatient unit at UPMC. Then after she is discharged, she with either go home with nursing care or UPMC Montefiore Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility.

Please share and let's see if we can help with some of the financial burden. She has a long road of recovery ahead. She could be in the hospital for up to a month, depending on how she takes to her new set of lungs. After that she will have to travel to UPMC often for testing and rehab.

I am so grateful she is being given a new lease on life. I am also asking for prayers for this surgery and the recovery. Thank you for taking the time to read this and share this. My Mom is my best friend and the kindest, hardest working person I know. I love you Mom. You've got this!! ❤️❤️❤️