Kellie: Medical Assistance for Lung Transplant

Our friend Kellie Czarnecki is about to embark on a challenging journey and requires a lung transplant in the upcoming months. I want to lean on all of her friends and family to help raise funds to help support the medical expenses she will be incurring through her procedures and doctor visits.

Please let me get you up to speed for those who do not know Kellie's story.

On August 5th 2021, Kellie went to the doctor for something completely unrelated to needing a lung transplant. She had been short of breath but thought it may have been because she was out of shape. The doctor took her on a walk, noticed an elevated heart rate, and to be safe, ordered a test. The test returned super high, and the doctor thought Kellie had a clot in her lungs, so the doctor sent Kellie for an emergency CT scan. She now mentions how she wishes it would have been as simple as a blood clot. Instead, they found something on her lungs and sent her to a pulmonologist. The pulmonologist showed Kellie her scan and said, "you have Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)." The doctor continued to say, "There are lots of scarring on the lungs and that scarring is irreversible. We need to determine why you have this when it's normally "an old man's disease". Kellie's DR stated that they wouldn't be able to reverse it but could maybe stop it from getting worse. After several tests, a lung biopsy with a hospital stay, and meetings with other specialists, her diagnosis was Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. IDP is a progressive disease and one in which the only option for survival is a lung transplant.

This is Kellie's story so far but is not how the story will end. She will continue to fight and, with your help, will be able to afford the transplant and come out healthier. In a couple of years, while spending time with her husband Rob Czarnecki and daughter Tabitha Czarnecki, they will talk about this challenging time and how they persevered.

Please help by sending your thoughts, prayers, and any funds you can spare to help with Kellie's journey!