Susan LeBel is only 44 years-old, and suffering from a severe lung condition known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. As a result, Susan needs medical treatment, or her medical condition will continue to deteriorate. Non-embryonic stem cell therapy, a treatment where stem cells can help repair lung tissue, is Susan’s safest option at this time.

Susan has sought treatment at the Lung Institute, which utilizes autologous stem cells, or those derived from a patient’s own body. Stem cells from Susan’s body can help repair lungs affected by lung disease by regenerating new lung tissue and replacing once damaged lung tissue. This type of treatment is the safest option for Susan, as she struggled for many years with progressive COPD. A lung transplant would pose greater risk to Susan both during and after surgery, at this time. Organ rejection and side effects from medication and invasive surgery are great risks for Susan’s frail and weak body, that she cannot handle at this time.

Susan is a loving mother to her 8 year-old son, Anikan and has devoted her whole life to raising her son with the love and support from her long-time partner and father to Anikan, Tim Percy. Due to her illness and difficulty breathing, Susan is unable to work, and desperately needs your financial help. Susan has worked hard for many years at her job at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital where she was gainfully employed in their food services department. She was loved by all and is known for her willingness to always help others. Her friends would say, “She would give the shirt off her back to help anyone”.