Shawna Fetterolf Medical Fund
Donation protected
Shawna’s Story:
In 2007, Shawna began having shortness of breath with a persistent cough. As most people feel as they get older, she mistakenly thought she was simply out of shape. Then, when it got to the point of affecting her daily routine, combined with all over itching, rashes, and joint pain when even walking and holding a pen, Shawna consulted her doctor. After 18 months of testing and various medications, she was given a referral to the Cleveland Clinic. It was there that she was diagnosed with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and Sjogren’s Syndrome, resulting in Lymphoid Interstitial Lung Disease. While relieved with finally having a diagnosis, she was still in a lot of pain and finding the correct immune suppressing medication proved to be very frustrating. After a few months and the correct meds, she started to feel like herself again.
After being stable for nearly 5 years with constant monitoring by her physicians, Shawna started experiencing increased shortness of breath with normal activities. After more testing and lung biopsy, it was confirmed that she had Pulmonary Fibrosis with only 50% lung function. She was immediately put on oxygen. While trying to maintain a normal lifestyle and keep up with a 13-year-old daughter, she could use a small oxygen tank at 2lpm in a backpack to accommodate most of her needs. After extensive research, she discovered life expectancy with this diagnosis was 3-5 years and was devastated. Always a positive and enthusiastic person, she started avoiding friends and became depressed. After her diagnosis, Shawna was approved for disability and eventually Medicare, though accumulated a plethora of medical costs while she waited for approval.
Luckily, Shawna’s condition stabilized for another 5 years, with the assistance of the amazing doctors at Duke University. Then, after acquiring a minor respiratory flu, Shawna’s stats took a turn for the worse. In November 2017, she needed 15lpm to walk a simple 6-minute test, making this her new normal. Her doctors were immediately concerned and referred her to the transplant team for evaluation. After completing testing, she was put on a wait-and-see basis to be added to the transplant list, started pulmonary rehab, and continued routine testing.
After consultation with her doctors at Duke, Shawna and her family moved to Florida for a job opportunity for Doug, her partner and primary caregiver. Even though a transplant seemed off in the distance, Shawna began researching local transplant facilities. After significant research and consultations with her Duke doctors, she was invited by University of Florida Shands Transplant Center for 3 days of evaluation. Lung transplant evaluation consists of visits with many specialists — including transplant surgeons, pulmonologists, dentists, OB/GYNs, pharmacy consultants, psychologists, financial specialists, dermatologists, social workers, and support groups. There are many tests, which include blood work, breathing tests, physical therapy tests, heart catheterizations, CT scans, esophageal and digestion tests, and so much more. They want to ensure that each person’s body is healthy enough to survive such an extreme surgery and that they can mentally handle the road ahead.
Only a few centers in the country will tackle her physical problems. These centers require the primary caregiver to be away from work for at least 3 months post transplant. They also require financial proof of at least $20,000 to ensure that patients can afford their medications and medical expenses after surgery. No one is accepted into the transplant program who cannot prove the required finances and support system, because they don’t want someone rejecting their wonderful new gift.
Shawna loves life and lives it to the fullest. She is strong-willed and has already exceeded the life expectancy of 3-5 years for her diagnosis. She now requires a wheeled cart that accommodates two 3-foot tall tanks to get her through part of a day away from home; however, she refuses to sit still and give in to her limitations, which rests at 35% lung function. She has put in the work at the pulmonary rehab program, gaining the core strength and stamina needed to be able to survive a double lung transplant. The only thing holding her back is the financial requirement.
We are mobilizing to help support Shawna with her many expenses, which include hospital bills, treatments, anti-rejection medications, medically related travel, and beyond. While Shawna and her family can benefit from help today, they look forward to paying it forward someday. Beating the odds is in Shawna’s nature, she just needs a bit of help to do so.
Thank you in advance!
Shellie Bullock
(Shawna is my best friend and while I am near Canton, Ohio and she is in Florida, we are using GoFundMe to reach our friends and family across the country. All monies raised will be directly deposited into Shawna's account for her to use for medically related expenses, including hospital bills, treatments, anti-rejection medications, medically related travel, and beyond.)
P.S. We have also started a group on Facebook to update everyone on Shawna's Medical Journey, so we have appropriately named it that. Please join to receive those updates! Simply search: Shawna's Medical Journey and request membership
In 2007, Shawna began having shortness of breath with a persistent cough. As most people feel as they get older, she mistakenly thought she was simply out of shape. Then, when it got to the point of affecting her daily routine, combined with all over itching, rashes, and joint pain when even walking and holding a pen, Shawna consulted her doctor. After 18 months of testing and various medications, she was given a referral to the Cleveland Clinic. It was there that she was diagnosed with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and Sjogren’s Syndrome, resulting in Lymphoid Interstitial Lung Disease. While relieved with finally having a diagnosis, she was still in a lot of pain and finding the correct immune suppressing medication proved to be very frustrating. After a few months and the correct meds, she started to feel like herself again.
After being stable for nearly 5 years with constant monitoring by her physicians, Shawna started experiencing increased shortness of breath with normal activities. After more testing and lung biopsy, it was confirmed that she had Pulmonary Fibrosis with only 50% lung function. She was immediately put on oxygen. While trying to maintain a normal lifestyle and keep up with a 13-year-old daughter, she could use a small oxygen tank at 2lpm in a backpack to accommodate most of her needs. After extensive research, she discovered life expectancy with this diagnosis was 3-5 years and was devastated. Always a positive and enthusiastic person, she started avoiding friends and became depressed. After her diagnosis, Shawna was approved for disability and eventually Medicare, though accumulated a plethora of medical costs while she waited for approval.
Luckily, Shawna’s condition stabilized for another 5 years, with the assistance of the amazing doctors at Duke University. Then, after acquiring a minor respiratory flu, Shawna’s stats took a turn for the worse. In November 2017, she needed 15lpm to walk a simple 6-minute test, making this her new normal. Her doctors were immediately concerned and referred her to the transplant team for evaluation. After completing testing, she was put on a wait-and-see basis to be added to the transplant list, started pulmonary rehab, and continued routine testing.
After consultation with her doctors at Duke, Shawna and her family moved to Florida for a job opportunity for Doug, her partner and primary caregiver. Even though a transplant seemed off in the distance, Shawna began researching local transplant facilities. After significant research and consultations with her Duke doctors, she was invited by University of Florida Shands Transplant Center for 3 days of evaluation. Lung transplant evaluation consists of visits with many specialists — including transplant surgeons, pulmonologists, dentists, OB/GYNs, pharmacy consultants, psychologists, financial specialists, dermatologists, social workers, and support groups. There are many tests, which include blood work, breathing tests, physical therapy tests, heart catheterizations, CT scans, esophageal and digestion tests, and so much more. They want to ensure that each person’s body is healthy enough to survive such an extreme surgery and that they can mentally handle the road ahead.
Only a few centers in the country will tackle her physical problems. These centers require the primary caregiver to be away from work for at least 3 months post transplant. They also require financial proof of at least $20,000 to ensure that patients can afford their medications and medical expenses after surgery. No one is accepted into the transplant program who cannot prove the required finances and support system, because they don’t want someone rejecting their wonderful new gift.
Shawna loves life and lives it to the fullest. She is strong-willed and has already exceeded the life expectancy of 3-5 years for her diagnosis. She now requires a wheeled cart that accommodates two 3-foot tall tanks to get her through part of a day away from home; however, she refuses to sit still and give in to her limitations, which rests at 35% lung function. She has put in the work at the pulmonary rehab program, gaining the core strength and stamina needed to be able to survive a double lung transplant. The only thing holding her back is the financial requirement.
We are mobilizing to help support Shawna with her many expenses, which include hospital bills, treatments, anti-rejection medications, medically related travel, and beyond. While Shawna and her family can benefit from help today, they look forward to paying it forward someday. Beating the odds is in Shawna’s nature, she just needs a bit of help to do so.
Thank you in advance!
Shellie Bullock
(Shawna is my best friend and while I am near Canton, Ohio and she is in Florida, we are using GoFundMe to reach our friends and family across the country. All monies raised will be directly deposited into Shawna's account for her to use for medically related expenses, including hospital bills, treatments, anti-rejection medications, medically related travel, and beyond.)
P.S. We have also started a group on Facebook to update everyone on Shawna's Medical Journey, so we have appropriately named it that. Please join to receive those updates! Simply search: Shawna's Medical Journey and request membership
Organizer and beneficiary
Shellie Bullock
Organizer
Hollywood, FL
Shawna Fetterolf
Beneficiary
