Rally for Renee: A Nurse's New Lungs

Renee has spent her entire life helping others, and now she needs your help.

For over 25 years, Renee has been the one taking care of others as a dedicated nurse. Now, she's the one who needs help. Living with Sjögren's syndrome (an autoimmune disease) since 2009, she's managed her condition with just one immunosuppressant for years. But everything changed in late 2024.

What started as mild sinus symptoms spiraled into relentless chest infections, repeated ER visits, and eventually a devastating diagnosis: pulmonary fibrosis. Her lungs are inflamed and forming scar tissue, making it harder and harder for her to breathe. She's now on oxygen 24/7, has been in and out of the ICU, and is under the care of multiple specialists–including a transplant team.

Despite powerful medications, breathing treatments, physical therapy, and getting intubated, her condition has progressed. She needed a lung transplant.

This wasn't just a medical crisis – it was an emotional and financial one, too. Renee has had heartbreaking conversations with her kids and her husband about the future that no one ever expects to face. The road to a lung transplant is long, expensive, and scary. But was her only shot at survival.

Renee received new lungs on May 12th, 2025!!!

Now it's our turn to help her the way she's helped so many!

If you've ever been touched by a nurse who stayed late, who held your hand, who showed up when it mattered the most, this is your moment to give back.

Please donate whatever you can. Every dollar helps cover medical bills, transplant-related costs, travel to specialized centers like Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and keeping her family afloat while she fights to heal. If you're unable to donate, please share her story. She's a fighter, but even the strongest need support.