Support Ahty's Double Lung Transplant

A poet once said "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." That person never had bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Ahty is a 30-year-old former athlete, current pharmacy liaison, and future lung replacement survivor (yes, we are manifesting her restoration). She went from bouncing between the uneven bars as an elite gymnast and breaking records in the 100-meter dash to having her world take an unexpected turn that rendered her reliant on oxygen tanks to make it through the day.

Ahty was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia at the age of 17 which later led to Myelodysplastic syndrome. After several years of not finding a completely compatible bone marrow donor, her mom was blessed with the opportunity to be a half-matched donor. Due to not having a full match, she endured many side effects resulting in Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome, a chronic lung disease constricting her airways. She had to substitute her high heels for an oxygen tank which she so lovingly named Roger. Having spent as many days in the hospital as she did in the comfort of her bed, she developed Mission Marrow which was her initiative to spearhead bone marrow donor registration throughout the City of Columbia, South Carolina, and the City of New York.

Ahty is now waiting for a chance to resume her life before Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome. She will be placed on the list for a double lung transplant in the Fall. As odd as it may seem, the surgery will be the easy part. It is the 12 months rehabilitation process that will be the real fight. Learning how to use new lungs and waiting for them to acclimate to their new “home” will be a battle but it is a battle she is ready to fight.

Ahty has been a warrior amongst women throughout this war. Instead of complaining and falling into a pit of pity, she is always concerned about how her condition is affecting the next person. She has always been ready to give back when she is needed the most but has been willing to tackle her health crisis on her own.

Her family and friends want to thank everyone in advance for any help they can provide. Whether you can spare $1, $10, $100 or a thousand dollars, your sacrifice is appreciated more than you can ever imagine. We asked that you not look at this as a handout but as a help-up. Your donation, no matter how big or small, can push her one step closer to getting her life back on track. We look forward to sending you updates as she progresses.