Jan's Double Lung Transplant Journey

My sisters and I are creating this GoFundMe account for our oldest sister, Jan Ahlgrim Dicharry so that she can prepare for one of the biggest challenges of her life - a double lung transplant. She is a fighter and loves life. If anyone deserves this, she does. Jan is a loving mother, sister, wife and friend. She is the

mother of 6, grandmother of 13 and she fostered kids for 13 years. She is a beautiful, creative soul, always giving to those in need even if she has to do without. While her health permitted it, she was always busy volunteering with the Texas Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, and local school, participating in beach clean ups, beach and forest restoration, and teaching students about plants, just to name a few. Jan is a faithful member of Silveroaks Baptist church where she volunteers, adopts families and serves where she is able. When she is not able to physically help, she supports various groups with donations and serves any capacity that she can perform. I cannot say enough about what a kind giving person Jan is, she does not have a lot of money, but if she sees a need, she will be the first one to help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although every day is a struggle , as you can see from her pictures, she is very involved with her family. Even with her disability, she still takes care of her grandchildren even when they are sick, teaches them to cook and sew, and makes every day with them special. She will host Bingo nights which include prizes, popcorn and cotton candy just for fun, as well as Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner. And although all of her children are grown, if any one needs a place to stay for a night, a week or a year, Jan is willing to share her not so spare bedroom.  She lives each day as if it were her last, she is even making blankets and bibs for grandchildren that she doesn't even have yet but hopes one day she will.  It is very hard to watch her struggle to breathe and not being able to do the things she once could do. 

 

Jan has Stage 4 COPD and has been on oxygen support for the last 10 years. Her visits to urgent care, the emergency room and the doctor’s office have increased dramatically over the last year. The doctor recently told her that he has run out of options - the only option now is a double lung transplant. After extensive medical testing, she has been accepted into the transplant program. Due to medications she has been on for the past 10 years, her first step in the process is to have extensive dental work completed to decrease the chances of infection after surgery. This will happen as soon as the funds become available to cover the procedures. After her dental work, she will be placed on the donor list. When a donor is found, she will have the double lung transplant in Houston. Jan has been advised that she may have to stay close to the hospital for 4-6 months after being released. We live almost 2 hours away, so that would mean staying in an apartment in or near Houston. During this time she will need a caregiver, place to stay, meals and gas. The recovery will be long, but Jan is a fighter and she never gives up. She is looking forward to being able to return to her family activities, volunteering and life free from being tethered to an oxygen tank and being able to just breathe. This will be her testimony.

 

Funds for Jan are need right away so she can begin her journey. The money collect will be used in various ways including but not limited to:

 

Dental expenses 

Medical expenses related to transplant

Travel - to and from Houston hospitals for doctor visits

Caregiver- after care

Medication

Rehabilitation
Housing near the medical center after transplant 

 

Jan has spent her life helping others and she is the last person who would ever ask for help, so we are asking for her. Please help us, help our sister.