Lung Transplant for Stephanie
Donation protected
A few years ago, my friend Stephanie Leib Migdal was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). This disease affects the lungs and diminishes the ability to breathe. IPF is progressive and fatal. Stephanie needs a lung transplant. I hope this campaign is one way to help her along the journey to renewed breath.
Stephanie has been my friend for many years. From high school through college, marriage, parenting, working, and the arrival of grandchildren, her warmth and humor have set the tone for our friendship. To me she is the quintessential mother and caregiver. But she is also an adventurer and nature lover. She and her husband, Jerry, built a cabin in Alaska and essentially lived off the land during their early years together. Some years later they returned to Alaska and built the house where they raised their two children, continued their careers, and became active in their community of Homer. Throughout her adult life, Stephanie has been caring for others – personally as a mom, wife, sister, and daughter, and professionally as a social worker, therapist, and advocate. She has helped countless individuals and families through times of extreme hardship and emotional trauma. With great heart and generosity of spirit, she has shepherded her family and others through loss as well as times of joy. Now she is using these qualities to keep herself and her family focused on the joy of having each other and facing each new day with hope.
After learning she had IPF, Stephanie traveled to Seattle multiple times to see a specialist and undergo tests. Eventually she was told she qualified medically for a transplant. However, prospective transplant recipients must live within three hours drive of the transplant facility and have a comprehensive plan of care in place before they will be put on the transplant list. Stephanie and Jerry would have to move to Seattle; but because Jerry has a chronic illness, he would be unable to care for Stephanie after the surgery. Without hesitation – and despite Stephanie’s strong desire not to burden anyone with her illness – Stephanie and Jerry’s children stepped in to provide a plan of care. Their daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter moved from Anchorage to Seattle with them. Their son helped with the move and is committed to providing respite care as well as additional post-transplant care in Seattle. This is an incredible family.
Stephanie and her family are in Seattle while she waits for her life-saving transplant. Although she is on an increasingly high level of oxygen 24/7 and her stamina is significantly diminished, Stephanie lives each day with optimism, humor, and determination.
How You Can Help:
Stephanie is ready for the challenges ahead and her family and friends will be there to support her. But more help is needed and that’s why we started this campaign. The transplant is covered by insurance, but many pre- and post-transplant related expenses such as deductibles, some medication, co-pays, especially for post-transplant medication as it is extremely costly and a life-long expense, utility costs for 24/7 in-home oxygen, transportation, and moving expenses are out of pocket. These expenses, coupled with the family’s loss of income due to the situation, are overwhelming. Please consider helping Stephanie cover these costs by making any size donation, spreading the word to others, and encouraging others to do the same. Enlarging the circle of caring and sharing through personal outreach and social media is crucial.
A Note from Stephanie:
This journey would not be possible without the unceasing love, caring, support, and personal sacrifice of my incredible family: my husband, my daughter and son-in-law, my son, and the sweet energy of my granddaughter. They are the force that helped move me to the decision to pursue this path. Each in their own way provided the strength, encouragement, and love that helped solidify my resolve. I am filled with pride and forever grateful. I also have to acknowledge the love and support I receive from my sisters, and from the wonderful people that have shared their gifts of friendship. With deep appreciation and gratitude, thank you to my dear friend, Debby, who agreed to manage this fund raising campaign, and to my beloved friends, Dolores, Trish, and Chris, who contributed their creativity, insight, and energy to make this happen.
I want to thank all of you who are interested enough to read this post, and concerned enough to lend support through encouragement, kind words, and monetary gifts. I am sincerely grateful for your help, without it my journey would be far more formidable. Asking for monetary help is very difficult for me, but in my struggle to stay strong and meet the challenges that confront me, it is necessary. I am humbled by the need to ask for help, but more by the support and encouragement from those who have chosen to help, to walk beside me on this path to renewed life. Please accept my heartfelt thanks and deepest gratitude.
Stephanie has been my friend for many years. From high school through college, marriage, parenting, working, and the arrival of grandchildren, her warmth and humor have set the tone for our friendship. To me she is the quintessential mother and caregiver. But she is also an adventurer and nature lover. She and her husband, Jerry, built a cabin in Alaska and essentially lived off the land during their early years together. Some years later they returned to Alaska and built the house where they raised their two children, continued their careers, and became active in their community of Homer. Throughout her adult life, Stephanie has been caring for others – personally as a mom, wife, sister, and daughter, and professionally as a social worker, therapist, and advocate. She has helped countless individuals and families through times of extreme hardship and emotional trauma. With great heart and generosity of spirit, she has shepherded her family and others through loss as well as times of joy. Now she is using these qualities to keep herself and her family focused on the joy of having each other and facing each new day with hope.
After learning she had IPF, Stephanie traveled to Seattle multiple times to see a specialist and undergo tests. Eventually she was told she qualified medically for a transplant. However, prospective transplant recipients must live within three hours drive of the transplant facility and have a comprehensive plan of care in place before they will be put on the transplant list. Stephanie and Jerry would have to move to Seattle; but because Jerry has a chronic illness, he would be unable to care for Stephanie after the surgery. Without hesitation – and despite Stephanie’s strong desire not to burden anyone with her illness – Stephanie and Jerry’s children stepped in to provide a plan of care. Their daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter moved from Anchorage to Seattle with them. Their son helped with the move and is committed to providing respite care as well as additional post-transplant care in Seattle. This is an incredible family.
Stephanie and her family are in Seattle while she waits for her life-saving transplant. Although she is on an increasingly high level of oxygen 24/7 and her stamina is significantly diminished, Stephanie lives each day with optimism, humor, and determination.
How You Can Help:
Stephanie is ready for the challenges ahead and her family and friends will be there to support her. But more help is needed and that’s why we started this campaign. The transplant is covered by insurance, but many pre- and post-transplant related expenses such as deductibles, some medication, co-pays, especially for post-transplant medication as it is extremely costly and a life-long expense, utility costs for 24/7 in-home oxygen, transportation, and moving expenses are out of pocket. These expenses, coupled with the family’s loss of income due to the situation, are overwhelming. Please consider helping Stephanie cover these costs by making any size donation, spreading the word to others, and encouraging others to do the same. Enlarging the circle of caring and sharing through personal outreach and social media is crucial.
A Note from Stephanie:
This journey would not be possible without the unceasing love, caring, support, and personal sacrifice of my incredible family: my husband, my daughter and son-in-law, my son, and the sweet energy of my granddaughter. They are the force that helped move me to the decision to pursue this path. Each in their own way provided the strength, encouragement, and love that helped solidify my resolve. I am filled with pride and forever grateful. I also have to acknowledge the love and support I receive from my sisters, and from the wonderful people that have shared their gifts of friendship. With deep appreciation and gratitude, thank you to my dear friend, Debby, who agreed to manage this fund raising campaign, and to my beloved friends, Dolores, Trish, and Chris, who contributed their creativity, insight, and energy to make this happen.
I want to thank all of you who are interested enough to read this post, and concerned enough to lend support through encouragement, kind words, and monetary gifts. I am sincerely grateful for your help, without it my journey would be far more formidable. Asking for monetary help is very difficult for me, but in my struggle to stay strong and meet the challenges that confront me, it is necessary. I am humbled by the need to ask for help, but more by the support and encouragement from those who have chosen to help, to walk beside me on this path to renewed life. Please accept my heartfelt thanks and deepest gratitude.
Organizer and beneficiary
Deborah DeFranco
Organizer
Palatine, IL
Stephanie Migdal
Beneficiary
