Markius's Lung Transplant

My father is a wonderful man.  Working hard and doing what it takes to raise three kids.  When I was 16 my father was diagnosed with a rare lung disease called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1).  This is a disease that you inherit from your mother and father.  This is a rare lung disease with only about 100,000 cases in the US and about the same in Europe.  Everyone has white blood cells that protect your body and organs, but with my father’s disease they actually attack his organs; causing him to have less than 25% of his lungs working.  Not only does he need one lung, he needs both of them. 

Because of this Alpha -1, my father who has always worked has been unable to work.  He is to the point now that his quality of life is not nearly as good as it once was.  To walk from the bedroom to the bathroom is a chore to catch his breath even when he is on oxygen 24/7.  If it is too muggy out, he cannot go out.  If it is too cold out, he cannot go out.  One thing that he is still able to do is love with all his heart and watch his grandchildren, my children.  He is a savior to my husband and I.  We both work and we are blessed to have him in our lives to take my kids whenever I am in need with no questions.  They are very close and love their bugdha with all their hearts (my son came up with the nick name).

My father’s support system comes from my wonderful and resilient mother.  I don’t know where her strength comes from, but every day she picks herself up and moves forward.  With every step forward, two steps back have come, but with every step my mother is able to keep her family going.  Days of driving to Mass to doctors’ appointments, to turned around with bad news saying my dad’s heart is getting weak, or his liver has issues and every time she moves forward. 

My parents are my rock and they are teaching me to be the person I am today.  I love them with all my heart and respect them more and more every day.  My family and I are blessed to have them in my life.  Now comes the part that my parents would never do, so out of the love of them I am doing this.  They struggle with the costs of living in Maine and going back and forth to Massachusetts.  Mass General has some of the best lung doctors, so my father deserves the best.  What I am trying to do is raise some money for when they get “the call” which could be any day.  My father after sixteen years is finally number one on the list!  They will have to stay in Massachusetts for two to three months.  While they are down there I am trying to cover their bills and living expenses.  If you can find it in your heart to help my family raise the money that is needed to accomplish this, then thank you!  Taking out the financial worry will allow my mother to take care of my father.  Thank you all and God Bless!