#TeamMissy Transplant Warriors

My dear cousin, Melissa Smith, was diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases about 4 1/2 years ago.  These diseases targeted her lungs and liver beginning at the young age of 38.  These diseases are: 'Systemic Sclerosis Related Pulmonary Fibrosis' and 'hepatopulmonary syndrome'.  Scar tissue built up in her lungs, and surrounded her liver, and put strain on the blood vessels from her liver to her lungs, causing her to suffocate slowly and need 24 hour oxygen at the highest levels available.

Fast forward to 2020 at the age of 43, and she degraded rapidly, needing a double lung and liver transplant.  

Today, October 12th, 2020, we couldn't be more happy to announce that she has received the most beautiful gift - LIFE! One week ago today, Missy underwent a 15 hour surgery to transplant both lungs, and her liver!!! She is recovering slowly, but beautifully.  

The process of recovery from these transplants will have her staying nearly three hours from home; between the University of Washington hospital and the Transplant House nearby.  The process of recovery will be at least three months away from home, then ongoing checkups frequently for the foreseeable future.

Being a single mother of two teenage children; there are many expenses that are needed to keep she and her caregivers in the Seattle area, and her children safely home and cared for in Sunny Sequim.  Expenses that range from household bills, to transportation to and from for her immediate family and caregivers, to food and necessities while living in the Transplant House.

If you are able to help, or share, this cause, we as #TeamMissy Transplant Warriors extend a HUGE thank you and God Bless you!

Missy created a fantastic blog before she went into surgery and will continue to update it when she is healed enough to add to it. In the mean time, I (Ginnie, her cousin), will be updating it. http://www.missyswarriors.com/