Lung Transplant for Lesleigh Cook's Life
Donation protected
Lung Transplant for Lesleigh Cook’s Life
By Diane Petruso
About 30 years ago, I adopted a rescue Golden Retriever named Pippi, and that was the start of a great adventure. Pippi took matters into her own paw, and saw to it that I met my “best friend you could ever have,” Lesleigh Cook!
You see, there was a picnic, and all the rescuers and their dogs were invited. Someone told me there would be a woman there who had adopted Pippi’s mother and half-sister. I was dizzy with excitement when I saw her car, and ran down the hill toward it, barely able to contain myself. I accosted her and blurted out, “Someone said you have my dog’s mother and daughter!” The poor woman looked at me as if I’d arrived from outer space, and politely said she would be able to talk to me once she’d unloaded her vehicle. I was deflated, and a bit embarrassed, but stoically persisted and gathered the courage to approach her again, but at a more propitious time. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Lesleigh and I have shared many adventures and, no matter how long apart, it is always as if we never were. Through our years of friendship, I have seen what a genuinely loving and giving person Lesleigh is, always putting others ahead of herself. During her life, Lesleigh has fought many unbelievably difficult battles that most of us will never face. On top of all that, she is also a breast cancer survivor, adding that battle to the rest, and managing to remain positive through it all. Although she is a super-hero at conquering adversity, she is now in another such battle, but this time it is for her life.
The Disease
Many months ago, Lesleigh was diagnosed with ILD (Interstitial Lung Disease), and the prognosis was grim. ILD causes progressive scarring of lung tissue, and the inability of the lungs to produce enough oxygen to sustain life. There are some drugs that can slow the progression of the disease a bit, but it is always fatal. Lesleigh is now at the point where, if she does not receive a lung transplant, she will die. Her doctors recommended her for a lung transplant, and to that end, she spent a week at Duke University Medical Center, undergoing many tests to see if she was a good transplant candidate. The exciting, wonderful news is that the doctors at Duke have determined that she is a very good candidate for the transplant. The unfortunate news is, however, the money she will need to accomplish this. She must relocate from her home in Virginia to Duke in Durham, N.C. for 6-8 months, where she will undergo pre-surgery therapy for 1-2 months, then spend two weeks in the hospital for the surgery, followed by 3-4 more months of rehab and close supervision for lung rejection, therapy and medical care. While her insurance will cover most of her medical expenses, she will be responsible for paying what they do not cover, and for all of her living expenses in Durham. In addition, she will have to maintain her home in Virginia, without any income, aside from a very small Social Security payment. This financial burden could be a major roadblock and prevent Lesleigh from having the life-sustaining transplant she desperately needs.
Her Need
The majority of Lesleigh’s income is from her small boarding kennel and her dog grooming services. COVID has devastated her business (no one is traveling now) and her illness has forced her to lessen the number of hours she can stand to groom dogs. This has left her with serious financial difficulties in meeting ordinary monthly expenses and bills. The thought of having to maintain a second residence in Durham for an extended period is extremely daunting.
The Kind of Person You Will Be Helping
I cannot think of anyone who deserves to live more than my friend. She has,for many years, devoted her life to training service dogs for the disabled. Once the puppies have completed their first year or so of basic training, she takes them into her home for 12-16 months and prepares them to partner with a handicapped child or adult. She lovingly teaches them to perform tasks to help their partner survive in a world that just doesn’t always work in their favor. She has trained seventeen service dogs, twelve of whom have been successfully partnered with handicapped people. Her success stories encompass all areas of need and help the partners to overcome physical, mental and emotional hurdles.
Lesleigh is also a staunch supporter of dog rescue organizations. She has adopted several elderly Golden Retrievers, beagles, and other dogs that could not be rehomed, and even two horses in need of a forever home. Not content to limit herself to such good doings, she and her therapy dog were a Read team at a local elementary school.
You cannot be around Lesleigh and not become a better person. Just observing how she is with her animals and with people makes you want to emulate her actions. You strive to be as good in your heart as she is, and even if you do not attain the goal, you will become a better person for the effort.
Beyond helping others, Lesleigh has another very important reason for wanting to live. She has two beautiful daughters and their families, including a grandson attending the Coast Guard Academy, and a beautiful, creative granddaughter in high school. Like so many of us, she looks forward to seeing them more often once the COVID threat is over. Her dreams include the possibility of dancing at a couple of weddings someday, but to do that she needs to stay here and to stay alive. She needs to not say good-bye to her family prematurely.
Where Your Money Will Go
Lesleigh needs financial support to be able to have the lung transplant. All donations will go toward sustaining her home in Virginia (expenses unable to be met due to her loss of income such as mortgage, utilities, animal support, etc.) and establishing a residence in Durham for several months (rent, utilities, transportation, food, phone, medical bills and prescriptions not covered by insurance). Once she can establish a residence in Durham, Duke will schedule her for her pre-surgery therapy and she will receive the transplant as soon as lungs are available. She needs your help to do that. Lesleigh has devoted a large part of her life to helping others. You can show her that her life matters, and help her to continue doing good for so many. Now would be a good time for the world to say thank you to her in the only way that matters – saving her life.
PLEASE -- help my friend live!
P.S. In case you are wondering, Lesleigh did not bring this disease upon herself; i.e., she never smoked, and does not, nor did she ever drink.
By Diane Petruso
About 30 years ago, I adopted a rescue Golden Retriever named Pippi, and that was the start of a great adventure. Pippi took matters into her own paw, and saw to it that I met my “best friend you could ever have,” Lesleigh Cook!
You see, there was a picnic, and all the rescuers and their dogs were invited. Someone told me there would be a woman there who had adopted Pippi’s mother and half-sister. I was dizzy with excitement when I saw her car, and ran down the hill toward it, barely able to contain myself. I accosted her and blurted out, “Someone said you have my dog’s mother and daughter!” The poor woman looked at me as if I’d arrived from outer space, and politely said she would be able to talk to me once she’d unloaded her vehicle. I was deflated, and a bit embarrassed, but stoically persisted and gathered the courage to approach her again, but at a more propitious time. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Lesleigh and I have shared many adventures and, no matter how long apart, it is always as if we never were. Through our years of friendship, I have seen what a genuinely loving and giving person Lesleigh is, always putting others ahead of herself. During her life, Lesleigh has fought many unbelievably difficult battles that most of us will never face. On top of all that, she is also a breast cancer survivor, adding that battle to the rest, and managing to remain positive through it all. Although she is a super-hero at conquering adversity, she is now in another such battle, but this time it is for her life.
The Disease
Many months ago, Lesleigh was diagnosed with ILD (Interstitial Lung Disease), and the prognosis was grim. ILD causes progressive scarring of lung tissue, and the inability of the lungs to produce enough oxygen to sustain life. There are some drugs that can slow the progression of the disease a bit, but it is always fatal. Lesleigh is now at the point where, if she does not receive a lung transplant, she will die. Her doctors recommended her for a lung transplant, and to that end, she spent a week at Duke University Medical Center, undergoing many tests to see if she was a good transplant candidate. The exciting, wonderful news is that the doctors at Duke have determined that she is a very good candidate for the transplant. The unfortunate news is, however, the money she will need to accomplish this. She must relocate from her home in Virginia to Duke in Durham, N.C. for 6-8 months, where she will undergo pre-surgery therapy for 1-2 months, then spend two weeks in the hospital for the surgery, followed by 3-4 more months of rehab and close supervision for lung rejection, therapy and medical care. While her insurance will cover most of her medical expenses, she will be responsible for paying what they do not cover, and for all of her living expenses in Durham. In addition, she will have to maintain her home in Virginia, without any income, aside from a very small Social Security payment. This financial burden could be a major roadblock and prevent Lesleigh from having the life-sustaining transplant she desperately needs.
Her Need
The majority of Lesleigh’s income is from her small boarding kennel and her dog grooming services. COVID has devastated her business (no one is traveling now) and her illness has forced her to lessen the number of hours she can stand to groom dogs. This has left her with serious financial difficulties in meeting ordinary monthly expenses and bills. The thought of having to maintain a second residence in Durham for an extended period is extremely daunting.
The Kind of Person You Will Be Helping
I cannot think of anyone who deserves to live more than my friend. She has,for many years, devoted her life to training service dogs for the disabled. Once the puppies have completed their first year or so of basic training, she takes them into her home for 12-16 months and prepares them to partner with a handicapped child or adult. She lovingly teaches them to perform tasks to help their partner survive in a world that just doesn’t always work in their favor. She has trained seventeen service dogs, twelve of whom have been successfully partnered with handicapped people. Her success stories encompass all areas of need and help the partners to overcome physical, mental and emotional hurdles.
Lesleigh is also a staunch supporter of dog rescue organizations. She has adopted several elderly Golden Retrievers, beagles, and other dogs that could not be rehomed, and even two horses in need of a forever home. Not content to limit herself to such good doings, she and her therapy dog were a Read team at a local elementary school.
You cannot be around Lesleigh and not become a better person. Just observing how she is with her animals and with people makes you want to emulate her actions. You strive to be as good in your heart as she is, and even if you do not attain the goal, you will become a better person for the effort.
Beyond helping others, Lesleigh has another very important reason for wanting to live. She has two beautiful daughters and their families, including a grandson attending the Coast Guard Academy, and a beautiful, creative granddaughter in high school. Like so many of us, she looks forward to seeing them more often once the COVID threat is over. Her dreams include the possibility of dancing at a couple of weddings someday, but to do that she needs to stay here and to stay alive. She needs to not say good-bye to her family prematurely.
Where Your Money Will Go
Lesleigh needs financial support to be able to have the lung transplant. All donations will go toward sustaining her home in Virginia (expenses unable to be met due to her loss of income such as mortgage, utilities, animal support, etc.) and establishing a residence in Durham for several months (rent, utilities, transportation, food, phone, medical bills and prescriptions not covered by insurance). Once she can establish a residence in Durham, Duke will schedule her for her pre-surgery therapy and she will receive the transplant as soon as lungs are available. She needs your help to do that. Lesleigh has devoted a large part of her life to helping others. You can show her that her life matters, and help her to continue doing good for so many. Now would be a good time for the world to say thank you to her in the only way that matters – saving her life.
PLEASE -- help my friend live!
P.S. In case you are wondering, Lesleigh did not bring this disease upon herself; i.e., she never smoked, and does not, nor did she ever drink.
Organizer and beneficiary
Diane Petruso
Organizer
Goodall, VA
Lesleigh Cook
Beneficiary