Corinne Schultz is one of those people who walks into a room and the mood immediately lightens. Her smile and laugh are infectious, and her warm, generous heart reaches out to all who cross her path. She approaches life with a spirit of optimism, hope, and love.

When Corinne was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2010, she dealt with her disease with a no-nonsense attitude, doing what needed to be done to maintain her health as best she could. In her quest to qualify for the transplant list and be “transplant ready,” she worked hard, taking her oxygen tanks to the gym with her to work out in the pool. Corinne focused on keeping her core strong enough to get herself out of bed after her transplant surgery. Ultimately, she lost over 100 pounds, which extended her pre-transplant lifetime.

IPF is a terminal lung disease in which fibrous scar tissue replaces healthy lung tissue. It is a progressive disease for which there is no treatment except lung transplant.

After her diagnosis in 2010, Corinne’s disease progressed sometimes slowly, sometimes more quickly. In 2017, she was unable to work due to poor oxygenation. Due to lost income, Corinne was no longer able to live on her own and moved in with her sister.

Corinne was put on the waiting list for a lung transplant in September of 2018. By October 28th, her condition had worsened drastically. She could no longer maintain adequate levels of oxygen using the equipment available at home, so she was admitted to UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco with hopes that donor lungs would become available before it was too late.

The hospital was able to provide much higher levels of oxygen than Corinne was able to receive at home. Corinne took advantage of this and continued to maintain her physical conditioning as much as possible by walking laps around the nursing units. She wanted to be in optimal shape when lungs became available, so she was clocking over two miles a day, toting oxygen tanks and equipment along with her on her walks.

Within days of being in the hospital, Corinne’s oxygen needs increased beyond what the regular hospital unit could provide so she was transferred to the intensive care unit where she could receive higher flow oxygen. She coded twice and her heart became compromised.

Shortly before Thanksgiving on November 20th, Corinne was no longer able to breath for herself and was put on a ventilator. Because her lungs were so scarred, she also required a type of lung bypass machine called ECMO which helped oxygenate her blood. Her physicians put her in a medically induced coma to help her conserve oxygen. Corinne’s physicians and nurses did all this and more in order to keep her alive long enough to receive new lungs.

At the beginning of December, other parts of Corinne’s poor body were showing signs of decline. Time was running out. Everything changed on December 2, 2019 when donor lungs became available!

Corinne’s physicians were concerned about her ability to handle a transplant because she was so sick, but they had watched Corinne’s earlier tenacity as she kept working out, walking lap after lap to maintain her conditioning. They observed how supportive her family was, making sure she had visitors every day of her hospitalization. Because Corinne’s spirit and support system were so strong, they ultimately made the decision to give her the donor lungs.

Her family and friends were overjoyed with relief that Corinne would have another chance at life. But with that joy came sadness at the thought that the donor’s family was mourning the loss of their loved one. The donor family’s gift of lungs to Corinne is appreciated with every breath she takes.

Since her transplant, Corinne’s new lungs have given her a new lease on life. Her two sons were recently married, and she has an infant grandson who brings her great joy. With the help of her family, and her supportive sister in particular, Corinne is working hard to optimize her health post-transplant so she and her new lungs can be around for many more years to play with this little boy and watch him grow.

New lungs are a wonderful thing to someone with advanced pulmonary fibrosis. They are life changing in many amazing ways. But there are steep ongoing prices to pay, both physically and financially with a transplant.

Initial expenses include costly housing in San Francisco due to being required to stay within a few minutes of UCSF Medical Center for at least six weeks.

Ongoing, lifelong expenses include costly medications and supplements to prevent organ rejection and to maintain the health of her transplanted lungs. Some of these medications may be considered “specialty medications” by the insurance companies which means they may be vastly more expensive to the patient.

Other expenses include copays for medical equipment, frequent lab work, pulmonary testing to ensure her body does not reject the donor lungs, and recurring travel expenses to follow-up appointments at UCSF in San Francisco.

Corinne wants to respect these new lungs by taking optimal care of them. Please consider contributing to help this delightful woman live a healthy, productive life.

We have chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in Corinne’s honor in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility 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, click on the GIVE button. And please consider sharing this page with others so so they may donate as well.

Thank you for reading Corinne’s story and thank you in advance for your generosity.

More Contribution details:

· All donations are tax-deductible.
· Donations will, by law, only be used for expenses related to health care, similar to a healthcare spending account (HSA).
· Donations can be anonymous if you choose.
· Credit cards and checks are accepted.

For Checks:

Make checks payable to: Help Hope Live
Note in memo section: In honor of Corinne Schultz

Please send to: Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road
Suite 100, Radnor, PA 19087

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.