Carly Hartley

Breathe With Me: Support Carly’s Lung Transplant Journey

Take a deep breath. Hold it for 5 seconds. Release your breath. Feels good, right? Breathing is something we all take for granted…but not Carly Hartley.

Like many people affected by Cystic Fibrosis, (CF), is a progressive genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system as well as many other organ systems, Carly Hartley can’t just take a breath and hold it. Sometimes she can hardly take a breath at all. Thickened and damaged airways, caused by the symptoms of CF and resulting persistent infections, restrict her lungs’ ability to draw in air. For Carly, a deep breath is not just unobtainable, it is painful, and always results in a prolonged coughing fit.

Carly began showing symptoms at the age of 10. Diagnoses ranged from asthma to allergies. It took six years for the doctors to diagnose her with Cystic Fibrosis. It was a devastating revelation. Despite previous health issues, Carly was always an active kid. She played softball, rode bikes, skateboarded, went snowboarding and dated. She was outgoing and had a zest for life just like any other 16-year-old girl. But Carly was not like any other 16-year-old.

Carly’s health took a major downward spiral not long after being diagnosed. She suffered frequent lung infections and was hospitalized too often to count. At the time she was diagnosed, the average life expectancy for a person with CF was 35 years old. Today, the average life expectancy is 41. Carly turns 35 in August and the clock is ticking.

As a wife and a mother of young children, Kali 6 and Jamason 10, Carly is fighting to live longer than 6 more years. Like any parent, Carly wants to see her children grow up and pursue their dreams. She wants to be there for their graduations and weddings. Carly is in the battle for her life, and her battle is won one breath at a time. Carly needs to breathe long enough to raise her children. To do that, she needs a double-lung transplant.

Lung transplants are life-saving miracles, but they come at a staggering cost. A double lung transplant will cost well over $1,250,000. While insurance will cover a large part of the cost, Carly and her family are facing extraordinary expenses before and after surgery. To make Carly’s lung transplant a life-saving reality, we must raise $250,000.00 USD.

So, where does the money you donate go? To start with, in order to be closer to the transplant center, Carly has to move from her home in Beaverton, Oregon to Seattle, WA. Her husband will have to stay in Oregon to work and keep their health insurance in place. Then, there are the costs of physical and pulmonary therapy, lab fees, anti-rejection medication, childcare, maintaining two homes and so much more.

Let’s be honest; there is no guarantee that Carly will ever receive a lung transplant. It is unthinkable, but it is possible that there will be no organ match. But nothing will be gained by dwelling on that awful possibility. We must be financially prepared when a set of lungs IS found.

Together we can make sure that Carly has the best possible chance for not only being an excellent transplant candidate, but for living a long, healthy post-transplant life. We cannot do this without help. Without the funds to pay for all that she will need before, during and after transplant, Carly’s dream of taking a deep breath and holding it will not be possible.

We can’t do this without help your help. Take a deep breath. Hold it. Let it out. Didn’t that feel good? Now think of Carly.

Please join us. Become a part of Carly’s journey to breathe through new, healthy lungs. You’ll breathe easier and so will Carly.

Donate to Carly’s campaign today.

Help Hope Live is a 501c3 non-profit organization providing fundraising support for medical and supporting expenses not covered by insurance. 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!