Shawn’s post-double lung transplant fund
Shawn Smith, now age 50, was a fun-loving 15 year old American teenager in 1985, until he was diagnosed with pulmonary issues, pneumonia that resulted in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Shawn spent six months at the Children’s Hospital in Seattle, where he suffered a stroke and paralysis. He was given a tracheotomy and had several chest tubes to drain fluid away from his lungs.
From 18 to 30, Shawn tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly and eating well. He was able to work in Alaska at a cannery, and started a family. He took opportunities for work as his health allowed. When his health started to decline he retired early on medical from the Simpson Door Company in McLeary, Washington.
In the year 2000 at the age of 30 Shawn started
to experience severe fatigue and was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease. With this diagnosis, he was given 3 to 5 years to live. He was able to stabilize his condition through lifestyle changes and a phenomenal medical team.
Shawn has faced these challenges and critical health emergencies with absolute determination. He is driven by a generosity of spirit and wicked sense of humour. His decades of suffering, as a child moving through to adulthood, inspires others to keep pushing through with kindness. He remains optimistic and sits in deep gratitude for the doctors and health professionals that have helped him over time. As many of you know, Shawn touches the lives of others through his educational roles in chronic disease self management programs, as well as diabetes and pain programs. Volunteering his time to do the workshops and at times picking up some contract work as a master trainer in each program. He has given selflessly whenever he can, whatever he can, in spite of these debilitating conditions and remained socially connected to friends, family and support groups.
Shawn spent the last 20 years, oxygen dependent, carrying oxygen tanks around to compliment his intake 24 hours a day.
The fighter that Shawn is, he changed his lifestyle further and in 2012 his diagnosis was narrowed down to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. Both conditions qualify him for transplant listing.
In 2014 Shawn went through the process to get listed for a double lung transplant at the University of Washington and waited patiently on the list for six years, with one dry run. A dry run is a call for transplant where the lungs end up not viable to use.
By 2019 Shawn was on a severe down hill decline of energy and function.And this year received the call that there was a possible match of lungs. In this devastating time of Covid-19, Shawn’s operation began on August 29th and concluded on August 30th, to fit him with his 2 new lifesaving lungs. He gives thanks for the selfless gift of donation that his donor gave. Now has a chance to live a wholehearted, energy filled life with his wife Bohemia, three children and grandson. “I plan to do my best to honor this gift.”
This GOFUNDME has been set up to assist Shawn in his health expenses, his post double lung transplant rehabilitation and to subsidise a small rental, to allow easy access to facilities at the University of Washington Medical Center campus for his aftercare and recovery.
Shawn is currently still in the hospital. After the transplant he was treated for an infection in his intestines that caused him to be under sedation for 17 days. He is currently trying to regain muscle mass so that he can stand and walk unassisted.
He is finally breathing free of supplemental oxygen for the first time in 20 years and is slowly recovering from this massive operation, with once again his optimistic spirit and determination.
In this difficult time, if you cannot make a donation to help Shawn in his process of recovery, then we ask if you’d please take a moment to share this page to all your social networks to amplify Shawn’s story.
If you leave a donation, please write a message to Shawn and/or upload a photo on this Gofundme page to help Shawn continue to feel the good healing vibes of support and encouragement.
We thank you for reading Shawn’s story. We were discussing what to write about Shawn. Suggestions where – he is The academy award winner Tom Hanks doppelganger,. We then started talking about the The Tom Hanks comedy Volunteers that was released in 1985. Seems like such a long time ago for many of us. We reflected on how this was the time when Shawn’s journey commenced and how we are finally about to enter a new part of Shawn’s healing journey.
HE GOT LUNGS!
Shawn is a remarkable human, resilient to the max and a ‘lifer’ friend if you have the privilege to know him. We wish him all the best in his recovery and thank you if you choose to support him in any way you see fit. Even in this moment, he remains committed to being well, energised, up and back to teaching and educating others with their lifelong chronic health challenges.
Mostly we think he cannot wait to be out of the hospital and back in the arms of his loved ones.
Shawn & Monkey Team
