Lung Transplant - Got the CALL!
 

Hi everyone,

Not many of you know this, but I have a 22 year old niece who has Cystic Fibrosis. She's had a very hard life. She's in the hospital way more than she is out of the hospital. The disease affects every patient differently but most are hit hardest by cysts and mucous in their lungs.

She was put on the transplant list THREE long years ago. One time, last year, she got a call that she was the "back up" recipient and she and my sister went to the hospital and just waited to see. Fortunately for the primary recipient, the lungs worked for her. Unfortunately, that meant Jada (my niece) didn't get them. That was June 2011.

Tonight, as she was already in the hospital (UAB), they called her. THEY CALLED!!! She has surgery for the new lungs to be transplanted at 5:00 am in the morning. I can't tell you how excited and nervous we all are.

Please keep my niece, my sister, and all of us in your prayers and thoughts. Please pray that these are the "right" lungs for her and that her body accepts them. I can't tell you what a miracle it will be...we have seen Jada lose 4 friends with CF over the past year and a half. All we want is to see her..for the first time in her entire life...take a breath of air. A breath that is easy, that doesn't make her cough, and that gives her the oxygen that her tiny 90 lb body starves for. What a Happy New Year it will be.

With that said, I would also like to thank the person and family that has even made this possible. Organ Donors are the true Angels on Earth. I pray that whomever this is that has lost their earthly life, lives forever in the Kingdom of Heaven with our Father. And I pray that his/her family has peace knowing that they were able to help their loved one save a life!

Good luck! I will have your niece in my thoughts and prayers!

Keeping Jada and your family in my prayers....

Keeping her in my prayers!

Oh, Terri, that is wonderful news for your little sweet niece and family! What a way she will be starting her New Year - with a whole new lease on her life! I will certainly be praying for that sweet young lady - and the family of her donor! Organ donation is so vital! Keep us posted and chin up, Auntie!

I will be praying that everything goes well for your niece.

Thank you all so much!

Oh and Michelle, we have always called her "JadaBug" (her first car was a VW bug lol). So, your screen name has always jumped out at me ;)

Jeanie - I will definitely keep you all posted. Now, this Auntie has to figure out how in the heck I am supposed to sleep to get some rest before getting up at 2am to drive to Birmingham. This is like a caffeine high without the coffee..LOL

Oh how wonderful!
Blessings to the donor and the family!

Keep us posted. Will send prayers

What a great way to start 2013! Please keep us updated! :)

Good news! Sending prayers for you all!

I am so thrilled for you and your family as well as thankful the recipient's family. I just hope and pray that everything goes well for your niece. You know I am in AL too and UAB is an excellent place so hopefully this will be a new lease on life for Jada. God Bless you all.

Julia

I am so happy for your family,while being sad for another.I pray that all goes well for Jada

Good news and good luck!

Like you say without donors this would never be possible. Sending prayers

Good thoughts and blessings to Jada and the entire family. And blessings to the donor and the family.

Thank you all so much. Yes, it's really hard when you or a loved one needs a transplant. It took us all a long time to realize that when we pray for Jada's lungs, we were not praying for someone to lose their life...just that if someone was going to lose their life, that they were a donor. It was even more complicated last year when Jada was the "back up" recipient. We prayed that God's will be done and the person that needed the lungs most got them. It was so tormenting because we were so happy for the lady that got the lungs, we really were...but at the same time, of course we were disappointed that Jada didn't.

This transplant merry-go-round is not one to ride without a strong faith in God. I'll tell ya that.

Okay..I was supposed to get up extra early in the morning...get some sleep tonight. I can see that's not going to happen so I'm thinking I might just go ahead and hit the road to B'ham in a few.

Prayer said, God bless Jada, the donor, and all of your family...May this all come to be the way it should be...

I pray that all goes well with Jada's surgery and that she is able to breathe freely and have a happy, healthy, long life.

What a wonderful way to start the new year. Your niece and your whole familt are in our thoughts.

Hope surgery went well..... praying for your niece and your family.

Just checking if for updates

Praying for Jada!

Oh I hope for the very best...sending prayers

I agree perfect way to start the New Year. Keeping your family in my prayers.

Sorry it took me so long to get back here to update. Thank you all so much for your prayers and I ask that you continue them.

Unfortunately, the lungs were not viable (they had fluid in them) so the transplant was cancelled. My niece is in good spirits because she found out over the last 36 hours just how huge her support system is and how fast everyone can spring into action when the call comes.

God has his own time and plan and we know this. The right lungs will come at the right time. I have a good feeling about 2013!! :)

I'm so sorry to hear this....but at least she's at the top of the list, right? Any day now :)

I'm so sorry to hear the lungs weren't viable. Prayers continue for Jada.

I'm so sorry things didn't work out. I'll keep Jada in my prayers.

Keeping your family in my prayers

I will pray that Jada stays positive and that she will get her transplant soon.