Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser Honoring "DJ"

Diana Juliet "DJ" is a beautiful, vivacious 23 year old who has been battling Cystic Fibrosis since she was born. Growing up, she constantly received respiratory treatments and a multitude of oral medications and had been in and out of the hospital often fighting off constant infections. She had endured numerous IVs, port-a-caths, PICC lines, and endless blood and pulmonary tests. Additionally, as a result of the effects of CF, she acquired insulin depend diabetes.

However, her lungs have reached the point that they have become resistant to all antibiotics. She was left in a hospital that had informed her family to "prepare for the worst" as there was not much else they could do. Fortunately, she was air lifted to Tampa General Hospital where they accepted her as a patient where they believed that she can regain her strength and receive a lung transplant.

This past week she has been through so much: she hemorrhaged from her lungs when they were about to intubate her and place her on a ventilator as she was on a BIPAP that still left her with air hunger, she went into cardiac arrest where the healthcare team then performed 3 rounds of CPR. Fortunately she survived the code, was successfully intubated, and continues to have all neurological function. Due to the cardiac arrest, she suffered injury to her kidneys and is receiving dialysis, and was placed on ECMO through a blood vessel in her groin (a machine that oxygenates her blood for her) in addition to being on countless medications to try and stabilize her.

The ultimate goal for DJ is for her to receive a total lung transplant and a possible kidney transplant if her kidneys do not recover. She recently was extubated and had a tracheostomy placed in order to not have her sedated. Over the next few weeks, she will have time to heal and get stronger in order to be able to take her final test which is a 6 minute walk. When she passes this test, she will be placed on the list to receive the transplant(s).

Her family resides in Homestead, FL which consists of her father, a single parent, and three other sisters (ages 22, 9, and 5). Her father Eddy is a 34 year retired Airforce veteran and a part-time Homestead police officer. Her father is temporarily staying at a rental in Tampa, FL in order to remain at DJ's beside for all her needs until she is discharged after receiving her transplant. It would be extremely and gratefully appreciated if anyone would be interested in financially assisting DJ and her family through this difficult time to help defray the costs of these unexpected turn of events. This would also help her father stay close to DJ.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, from my family to yours. Please continue to keep DJ and her family in your thoughts and prayers.