Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Hope Help Live; www./helphopelive.org/campaign/12194

Not my typical blog post......

HelpHopeLive

My good childhood friend is awaiting approval for a double lung transplant.  In short, while going for extensive treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fl. her employer was not able to keep her on short term disability.  She is fighting for every breath and waiting for approval and is now faced with expenses.
In the spirit of the season, if you can donate, no amount is too small.
Thank you.


From Sue Dow Smiley's   Help,Hope,Live page
Sue (Susan Dow Smiley) is a loving mother, grandmother and registered nurse.  For those of you that know Sue, you know that she is an amazing, all around giving person. She has spent her life being an exceptional loved one and friend to so many and is now literally fighting for every breath. The person who has given to so many, for so long, now needs help from family and friends alike.

In August, Sue was hospitalized with an upper respiratory infection.  Shortly after release from the hospital, she was placed on oxygen and became progressively worse. Her local primary care physician and specialists that were consulted were both puzzled and challenged by her quick decline.  After a month or so with no identified improvement, she was referred to the  Mayo Clinic facility in Jacksonville, Florida for further evaluation.

After identifying that the infection was present for some time prior to being diagnosed, it was determined that there was already permanent lung damage, so Sue was referred for evaluation to the Mayo Lung Transplant program, while simultaneously being treated with rigorous IV drug therapy.

So just a few months ago, Sue was caring for patients, spending time with her family, especially her 4 grandchildren who give her tremendous joy, enjoying kayaking and taking longs hikes on the beaches and state park trails.  Today she is dependent and tethered to oxygen and unable to go more than a few feet without needing to recover. But there is hope!

Sue is continuing to work with the amazing doctors and staff at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and we are hopeful that she will be approved for a double lung transplant.

While working through the extensive testing, temporarily relocating from her Tampa Bay area home to Jacksonville, and trying to fulfill the stringent requirements to be a transplant candidate, her employer was unable to keep her on short term disability.  Even with insurance, costs for pre and post transplant are staggering.

Please give what you can to help Sue transition through this journey and realize the dream of breathing freely again.  Help hope live!
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