Douglas Woodside

“Glad to Meet You, Sorry That You are Here.”

Those were the words I heard as I was staring at a piece of paper taped to the door of the UW cafeteria that listed the scheduled meetings for the day. It was just moments before I went into my first IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) support group meeting that I met Dan, a man with wonderful energy and a multi-year survivor of a lung transplant.

I’ve been on my IPF journey with many twists and turns from early 2015, when I was diagnosed, to present. This encounter with Dan was in the fall of 2018; and I knew that someday, hopefully, I’d be facing the opportunity of a transplant myself. It is now late fall of 2021, and that time has come.

I am one of the lucky ones. They say less than forty-five percent diagnosed with this disease live more than five years; I am over six years now. Fortunately, and unfortunately, my disease is familial, meaning it is hereditary and we have a family history of this disease. I know this is what helped with an early diagnosis, and I know that the medical community has taken huge strides in understanding (and someday curing) this disease in the six years that I have been treated.

I won’t lie to you and tell you that this has not been flipping scary from the first day I was diagnosed, it has. That there aren’t days when I drive myself home from an appointment and tears hit my eyes as I face my known mortality. That I don’t look at every trip I take, moment fishing, adventure, pleasure, and holiday a little bit differently. The thoughts of missing the ones I love, the good times with family and friends – it all hurts to the core.

So here we are, its 2021 and time to take this story to the next chapter: lung transplant and many years of productive survival. Lung transplant is not a cure, it is trading one disease for another, but with a more optimistic outlook. It is a lot of work not only for me but for everyone who surrounds me. There are downsides, which I understand, but there are many upsides, which I will focus on.

With great hope, strength and relentless support of the wonderful teams that surround me, may this journey continue. I Got This! – Doug

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As many of you know, my transplant journey has taken me to Phoenix, Arizona where I have been accepted as a patient at St. Joseph’s Medical Center and I have be listed with UNOS (the United Network for Organ Sharing) as a transplant candidate as of November 29, 2021.

Many of our friends and family have reached out asking how they can support us, and it has taken us some time to find the right answer. Help Hope Live is a non-profit that was introduced to us at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, and we believe it is the right organization to assist us through this journey. Help Hope Live’s history is rooted in transplants and was founded by a transplant surgeon and nurse to assist patients with the financial challenges of transplants.

After discussion, we feel that having to relocate and the related expenses are our greatest burden. We have found that housing in the Phoenix area is exceptionally popular and expensive this winter as many snowbirds are back after not being able to travel last year. Transplants are not typically quick, but fortunately St. Joseph’s has one of the shortest waitlist times. The average timeline of a healthy recovery includes two to three weeks in the hospital after surgery, four to six months of frequent visits to the hospital, followed by monthly visits for a total process that is yearlong.

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Family and friends of Doug Woodside are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live (in Doug’s name) to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with transplantation. Funds raised in Doug’s name are managed by Help Hope Live and will be allocated to us for medical expenses throughout this process. Any unused funds raised in Doug’s name will be passed on to future transplant recipients.

We have chosen to fundraise for, and in conjunction with, Help Hope Live 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.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.
Thank you for your support!

Cheers, Doug and Family