July 23, 2020
Please Help Debi Reach Her Financial Goals For Surgery and Related Expenses!
Family and friends of Debi are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical and anti rejection medicines associated with a lung transplantation. In addition we will also need funds to help with monthly bills and housing. Any assistance would be helpful and appreciated.
Debi has chosen to fund raise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility to the full extent allowed by law for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, please click on the Give button.
In addition to Social Media, we will be planning local events to fund raise and to bring awareness to Lung Transplantation.
What keeps me going...While unable to work. I am home with Dan most of the time. He is in bad health and also and unable to work. He gets me to doctor appointments,takes care of things around the house that I can no longer do, and makes sure I have all my medications.
Prayer keeps me going!
Family keeps me going!
Friends keep me going.
I am thankful for everyone in my life!
Thank you in advance for your support!
June 15, 2020
Blessings and Thank You to the Transplant Donor and Family and to all the Caring and Skilled Team Members for the generosity that has given Debora her second chance. Because of their and your continued caring gifts the healing and recovery can begin.
February 25, 2020
Well it's been a long several weeks!
I was in Frederick Memorial Hospital from 1-23-2020 and then taken to UMMC form 1-28-2020 to 2-15-2020! I'm so happy to be home where I have started rehab to get as strong as possible for my transplant.
The transplant will be a VERY long, hard and life changing operation. I am very very blessed to have such support family and friends to help. SO many people have helped in so many ways. I am praying that your prayers and support continue. Thanks again for everyone's help and we will keep everyone post on my progress.
Godspeed.
Debi
January 21, 2020
So... here we are in 2020!! Most people celebrate the New Year. I dread it! To me it means insurance deductibles and co-pays! Living on Social Security Disability which is next to impossible.
I feel like I keep getting weaker both physically and mentally. The constant high flow of 24/7 oxygen is exhausting. I try not to go out because if I do the following days I am in bed resting for the day.
I met with my transplant doctor and did some testing. She tells me that I'm a perfect candidate for a double lung transplant. I'll be on the transplant registry list for a year on 3-18-2020!!! So at this point it comes down to, More days of waiting for "the call". More prayers for strength.
November 18, 2019
Hello Everyone!
On Friday 11-15-2019 I was seen by my pulmonary transplant doctor at UMMC. She was very positive and said that I am a "perfect candidate" for a bilateral lung transplant now! At my next appointment my listing number will be increased due to an increase in my oxygen intake.
Of course no one knows when the transplant will happen and hopefully I can maintain where I am right now as far as the rest of my health and weight. Fingers crossed that I don't lose anymore weight! Seems it's a fine line for a transplant to happen. You have to be sick enough for your listing number to be high yet healthy enough to withstand the surgery,
While this is very hard for my family and supporters to handle, we all know that eventually things will change. I am blessed beyond words for all the help and support.
If you or anyone you know has contributed, I appreciated every penny and prayer! If you would be kind enough to continue to help when every you can and spread the word I truly do thank you from the bottom of my heart!!
Debi
August 20, 2019
Hello Everyone, Since my last posting I have been hanging in there. :) I was back in the hospital 2 weeks ago with the usual lung exasperation. I was there for 5 days taking steroids, antibiotics and fluid thru IV. I have a nurse, PT and OT here at the house everyday to help me gain my strength again. Seems to be every few months now. On August 18th I have been on the transplant list for 5 months. Yesterday I spoke with my transplant coordinator and it was explained to me that the wait for a transplant could be at least a year! This really set me back! I was honestly thinking 6 months was the "norm" to be on the list. She explained that even though I am end stage emphysema, some patients can live longer than those with other lung diseases. While I can understand that, it still hit hard!! The thought of being so limited and not being self sufficient in so many ways is very depressing. I will meet with the pulmonary transplant doctor on August 30th. Hopefully after more pulmonary testing my score will increase placing me higher on the list. Fingers crossed! Meanwhile, I want to thank everyone for the financial help and prayers. Please, if you can, continue to help and pray. Every prayer and dollar is so so appreciated!
Debi
June 4, 2019
Please share my message and page with your friends, families and work families. Any and all help is needed and appreciated! Also, I would like everyone to know that the funds are managed by HelpHopeLive Org. All monies are used for medical purposes and paid by HelpHopeLive Org.
May 15, 2019
I was back in the hospital at the end of April for 4 days. Lung exasperation and chest pain. The usual treatment, heavy steroids and antibiotics.
There are so many factors that can cause a problem with a lung transplant patient awaiting "the call"! Stress is one of the big factors! I worry about When, how the surgery will go, worrying my family and friends, recuperation and finances!! I really don't like asking for financial help so many times. But, it is needed.
The first thing to come to terms with is that lung transplants are very expensive procedures. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) reports that a double lung transplant, including the organ procurement fee, hospital costs, physician fees and the cost of evaluation, follow-up and immunosuppressant drugs, can come to about $543,900. This number is So scary!
Please share my message and page with your friends, families and work families. Any and all help is needed and appreciated!
March 18, 2019
I am finally listed on the Lung Transplant List at UMMC!!!
It's been nearly 3 years of hospitals, many tests and many many doctors. will be a long recovery but I am blessed with a great support system and a lot of prayers. I want to say thank you to all the people that have helped me in so many ways.
I pray that your help and prayer will continue for me and my family while we go through this part of the journey.
We are very very blessed!!!!!
January 8, 2019
Hello everyone! I met with one of the transplant surgeons on the 4th. He went over my medical history and asked a few questions. He said that he feels I am a good candidate for the transplant. I still have a test to have done on the 15th. I was hoping that the appointment was going to render an answer for being on the transplant list, it did not. :( I was told by the coordinator that until this test is done she can not present my case to the team. That being said, I am praying to have a answer in February. Still hopeful.
December 8, 2018
12-07-2018
Dan and I met with the transplant pulmonologist today. She said that all the tests so far look good and I have one more test to do on 01-15-2019. Once that is done they will schedule me to meet with the surgeon and then I would be placed on the list!! When I got home I had a message that they want us to meet with the surgeon on 01-04-2018!!!! We are SUPER excited!!!! Moving forward!
November 19, 2018
So, I went to get the two test done and they were only able to do 1 of them. The Manometry Ph probe was not completed after 3 tries. The tubing keeps getting twisted, preventing it from going down and placing the sensor. I now have to go in on January 15-2019 to have a capsule inserted in my stomach for observation. As disappointing as this is I understand that the doctors need to be sure that there are no complications during or after the surgery that can be prevented.
I just want the testing to be completed so I can get on the list, get the surgery, heal and start my life over! Get back to work, sing, dance,go for walks, chase my grandchildren and simply breathe!!!!!!!
October 25, 2018
I was admitted to the hospital last night for chest pain and breathing difficulties. It was a very long day and night. I came home today. Some more meds and home health nurse visits. I am doing well. These are continually health issues with end stage emphysema.
Don't know what I would do without my husband, Dan, constantly standing behind me.
GOD is good to me!
October 12, 2018
So....I seen my Transplant pulmonologist today and was told I still have two more test to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have Chronic bronchitis and put on antibiotics. Next appointment on November 30th. Hopefully then I will be on the transplant list.
Feeling a little disappointed from this visit.
