Hello Friends!! Beth here. I just wanted to introduce myself and my family to you. My husband, Chris and I have been married for almost 23 years. We have 3 Children together, and 8 grandchildren. They are all the light of my life.
We moved to Utah 7 years ago to be closer to our daughter, son in law, and mostly our grandbabies. In the years that have followed our sons have both ended up here and have all started families of their own. I am so very blessed to have them all so close, and to be able to see them nearly every day.
Here is a bit of my story. On February 2 of 2022, I was taken to the hospital by ambulance. I found out that I had a blood clot in my lungs, most likely caused by a recent case of Covid. They performed a CT scan and found out that I had something else going on in my lungs, besides the blood clots. At first the Dr. thought that it was caused by black mold we had found in our house, however that turned out to not be the cause of the lung problems. In June 2022, I had a Bronchoscopy done, in hopes to have a biopsy completed. The Dr was unable to complete the biopsy because there were too many air pockets in my lungs, and that could have caused my lungs to collapse.
In August, an open lung biopsy was performed. There was a 4 day hospital stay after that. I came home for 2 days, and then had to go back to the hospital, because of Acute hypoxic respiratory failure. At this time, I was in the Hospital for 7 days. When I was released from the hospital, I was placed on supplemental Oxygen, and have been on it ever since. The biopsy showed that I had what is called Eosinophilic Pneumonia, which is a rare infection where a type of white blood cells builds up in your lungs and blood, causing inflammation and damage. The usual treatment for that has not helped to clear it up. I will be starting an experimental treatment soon to hopefully get that cleared up.
In October of 2022, I returned to the hospital for 8 days, due to another flare up in my condition. At this time I was diagnosed with a second lung disease which is called Idiopathic Pulmonary fibrosis. It is a progressive disease, there is no known cause, and there is no medical cure. It seems that it is progressing very rapidly. During this hospital stay was the first time that a Dr mentioned lung transplant to me. Since that time, things have progressively gotten worse, and the need for lung transplant is now the best option that I will have to see my grandchildren grow, and to improve my quality of life, and get back to doing the things that I love to do.
I know that it will be a battle. I also know that I am not alone in this. I have the support of my family. I have dear friends who help with anything I need. I have the blessing of an amazing Church family, who consistently hold me up in prayer. More that all of that, I have a God that tells me that I can do all things through him who gives me strength, and that nothing is impossible for Him.
We are partnering with the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund for $75,000 to help pay for any uninsured medical expenses and bills during post-transplant care. These expenses include travel to and from University of Utah hospital where I will regularly get evaluated for signs of lung rejection and help pay for any home and utility bills while Chris and Briana will be taking unpaid leave to take care of Beth during her critical first year with these new lungs. All donations are tax deductible and held by Help Hope Live. They will be administered by Help Hope Live to pay for transplant related expenses.
Beth has chosen to fundraise for 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!
