Hello everyone, my name is Karen Rydstrom. I’m 54 yrs old and in need of a double lung transplant.
It all started about 13 yrs ago. I would have trouble breathing with everything I did. I just chalked it up to my job or jobs. I would get sick and go to the dr and be diagnosed with bronchitis and was put on inhalers and a nebulizer. About 3 yrs ago I had been hospitalized for my breathing and had finally been referred to a pulmonary Dr. He did some testing and told me I only had 26% lung function. He put me on 2 liters of Oxygen. I then told him I wanted to see about a lung transplant as I had to much left to live for.
Updates (3)
November 8, 2019
rry it's been so long since I've posted. On Aug. 5th I was called to Omaha, Ne for a Lung Transplant. I got there @ 10a.m. They did testing here and there throughout the day. I was scheduled for surgery 1st at 11:40 p.m. then they changed it to 1 a.m. I was 20 mins from going into surgery and they called it off as lungs were bad. I went home the next day. Then my next call came on Nov. 3rd at 8:35 p.m. and got the at 10:45 p.m. Went through testing again and didn't really have a set surgery time till they took my fluids at 10:30 a.m. which was 2 hours before I would go for surgery. Well about 10:45 a.m. the surgeon came in and told me there was a tumor in donors body and they found out it was cancerous so all the hospitals that were going to get organs turned them all down due to this. So I've had 2 dry runs that God saved me from getting bad lungs. As they say the 3rd times the charm. So I've got over my disappointment and on Tuesday I said a big prayer to God and told him how fortunate I am for him. I've not done any more fund raising but I need to do this. My time is getting so close to surgery I'm asking for some donations as I'll have to be gone for 4 months and will have to pay for housing and such while were gone. Any amount helps and will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
April 24, 2019
Well I went to Minneapolis for my 6 mo check up. All my bloodwork and breathing tests are holding in the same ranges as last time. They said to keep doing my pulmonary rehab and exercises. I was suppose to get on the research study but they never showed up to talk to me. I finally got to go to the support group meeting and it was good seeing everyone again. I was the only one in the room that hasn't been transplanted yet. That was a heartbreaker but I was happy for everyone and how good the ire all doing. I will be there one day. God has my plan. I go to Omaha on the 29th of May for updated testing.. I'll keep saying my prayers.
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Guestbook
March 21, 2019
God Bless you in your journey. You got this!
Susan Brand (Mortweet)
March 18, 2019
Praying that soon you will get that call from Omaha on your lung transplant. You are in our prayers. God bless!
karen k smith
