Leslie Lozano is 51 and four years ago, she was diagnosed with a rare lung disease called Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome. The disease makes it increasingly difficult to move air into the lungs until the airways become so narrowed that eventually, constant oxygen therapy is required. Currently, Leslie uses oxygen at night to sleep and also when she is active, which is frequently as she manages a busy coffee house. The possibility of a lung transplant was always in the future playbook for her disease, but became a reality as her lung function declined this past year; Leslie is now on the active lung transplant list.
Leslie is currently working and will continue to do so until she gets her lung transplant. However after transplant, she will have to take a medical leave from work and she will need support from family, friends, and the community to with the out-of-pocket transplant related expenses including the costly anti-rejection medications that she will have to take for the rest of her life.
Updates (9)
November 23, 2017
New changes this year for me. I have gone back to work as a shift supervisor instead of a manager. My doctors feel that 40 hours a week is too much for a transplant patient and management would be even more. It is a considerable loss of income but I do make tips to help
Make up for it. My husband and I have agreed to a separation but are, for financial reasons staying roommates for now. This really isn’t uncommon in our age group or for transplant patients as they
become less dependent on their spouse. This does raise some financial concerns for me as far as paying the deductibles on my medical expenses but I have learned to not spend a lot of money and
I have lived on my own before. I trust that God will provide for me.
Aside from the stent problems I am doing really well. I try to work out 3-4 days a week at the club
To keep my muscles toned and keep my sanity. I actually love being on my own except when it comes to having to get around. I think that this year I will learn how to drive so I can become more independent, although I have been getting around pretty well with the bus and Lyft and I don’t know
If I want the expense of a car.
I do want to thank everyone who has supported me both financially and with prayers. I truly could not do this without you. God Bless
May 25, 2017
Well it has been 14 months since my transplant and I think I am finally on the right track. I was going into the hospital for about 4 days every month for a while there and even spent Thanksgiving having gall bladder surgery, no turkey dinner for me. I did reach my goals of watching my boys graduate one from high school and one from college. I have returned to work very part time 14 months later, my personal goal was to return in 6 months but that didn't happen. The last one of my goals to achieve will be in July when my oldest son gets married.
I am so thankful that my doctors have been able to handle every complication that comes up
Including a stent that fractured and started moving to the tissue that will not firm up so they can remove it. I have almost accepted that I will have the stent for the rest of my life and that they will have to check it every 3-6 months. This involves going back under anesthesia so they can go into my lungs through a breathing tube. Aside from it being costly, it keeps me in Minnesota as my doctor is the one that knows all the complications with my airway. Not that I mind Minnesota I just wish that it was warmer and closer to my family. Thankfully we have a new family out her.
I don't know if I will ever return to full time work but I am enjoying being back and doing what I can. I am also looking forward to doing some camping and hopefully some hiking on those camp outs. It is so nice to be able to breathe again.
