A Breath of Hope for Angelina

Angelina is a 13 year-old from Austin, Texas who has end-stage Cystic Fibrosis and is now at the top of the waiting list to receive a double-lung transplant. She has dealt with the effects of this genetic disease since being diagnosed at birth.
Cystic Fibrosis affects only 30,000 Americans and it is incurable. The disease slowly attacks the respiratory and digestive systems by increasing the thickness of the bodily fluids in the lungs and pancreas.
In the lungs, this thick mucus is hard to expel and causes bacteria to colonize and infect the organs causing permanent damage.
For the early part of her young life, Angelina maintained her health by doing airway clearance and breathing treatments at least twice a day and taking medications to treat the digestive issues of CF.

In 2011, her health began to rapidly deteriorate and she was continually hospitalized for weeks at a time.

In 2012, she was placed on the pediatric waiting list for a double-lung transplant.  After 6 months of hard work to regain her health and strength to undergo this major surgery, she rebounded enough to be released home to try and live as long as possible with her own lungs and  on  24 hour oxygen support.
The constrictions of her daily regiment and needs were obstacles for Angelina. Determined to overcome these obstacles, she attended school with her friends and lived as normal a life as possible.

Then, in July of 2014 the disease took a huge toll on Angelina's lungs and she spent 4 months hospitalized, for a large part in PICU.  By September 2014, she was transferred back to Houston and again placed on the transplant waiting list.

Angelina and her grandmother have lived in and out of the Ronald McDonald House- Houston  and local motels since October 2014. She has been at the top of the waiting list to receive a double-lung transplant since March 2015.

The family has endure many hardships caring for Angelina during her fight for life.  Since she requires 24 hour care, the family's income has suffered and the transplant team have instructed the family to fundraise now to support Angelina before, during and after transplant. (Immuno-suppressive drugs can cost approximately $5,000.00 per month- out of pocket.)

There is no life insurance policy available for Angelina due to her disease.

Angelina is such a beautiful, spirited "Angel on Earth" and the family will continue to sacrifice for her to have a better quality of life. 
All donations, large or small are welcomed and appreciated.
With your help, we can realize Angelina's biggest and most important dream....to breath easier on her own.
Follow her progress fighting for life at: facebook.com/AngelinasUpdates