By Karen Range, lung recipient
My name is Karen Range. Prior to February 2006 I was a fairly healthy stay-at-home mom of a 2-year-old. In mid-February I started coughing and was short of breath. I went to the doctor and was told I had pneumonia. I was given antibiotics and steroids but continued to worsen.
I was diagnosed with bronchitis and given more antibiotics and steroids. This went on until I coughed so hard I cracked two ribs and was in unbearable pain. (more…)
Diane Tefft Young says she is humbled by the gift she received from her lung donor. She was so humbled, in fact, that she was inspired to share the experience. (more…)
By Diane Tefft Young, lung transplant recipient
Reflections on receiving a lung transplant:
In late autumn 2004, I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This typically fatal restrictive lung disease involves the progressive scarring and subsequent stiffening of the lung which causes breathing to become increasingly more difficult. Although I became tearful when I heard the diagnosis that I would live for only three to five more years – in that moment the time span appeared to be lengthy. (more…)
By Bill Laing, double lung transplant candidate
In 1994, I started having trouble breathing and a lung biopsy in 1996 revealed I had sarcoidosis, a condition that causes the immune system to attack the lungs.
For the next 15 years I was able to manage and live with the disease, but in December 2009, my difficulty breathing had progressed to the point that I could no longer do my daily tasks without using eight liters plus of oxygen with exertion and still stopping to catch my breath so I was listed for a double lung transplant. I was able to continue with my plumbing design work until November 2010 when being on time and having enough energy to last all day became too much for me, and my employer. I had to quit my job. I am on oxygen all of the time now, and spend my days time doing easier tasks, like playing Legos with my grandson, taking naps, and helping at church. (more…)
by Don Huiner, Father of organ recipient
I believe everyone has at least one person in their life who has influenced and inspired them to make a difference. In my case, one such person was my daughter, Erika.
Erika was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as an infant. In our efforts to understand the implications of her disease, my wife, Eileen, and I had several counseling sessions with a psychologist. He told us that we could not live Erika’s disease for her. Rather, our job as parents was to help her become the strongest, most self-reliant person that she could be. (more…)
by Tony Siciliano, double lung recipient
At three months old, I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Even with my diagnosis I was brought up to live my life to the fullest. I followed my regimen of medicine and chest therapy throughout my childhood and early adulthood with few problems. I had hardly any hospital visits and was even able to play soccer!
By Cathy Eyen, Double Lung Recipient
On a daily basis there are behaviors we have and actions we perform without really thinking about how life would be without them. Blinking, walking, talking and breathing are just a few examples. My ability to breathe was compromised in 2002. (more…)
