Lungs for Lyndsy

Hi this is Cynthia, Melinda & Melissa, we are Lyndsy's Aunts. Lyndsy is only 34 years old. Lyndsy has been dealing with a lot of serious acute medical issues for over a decade. She has progressed to the point where she now requires a double lung transplant in order to survive. We are trying to help Lyndsy and her parents during this most difficult time.

Beginning in 2007, at the age of 20, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder which shows up as a connective tissue disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). She had problems with lifting her arms above her head. She also experienced problems with her feet and hands as well over the years. She has over eight surgeries on her hands and feet since this began. The hands and feet were very painful during everyday daily activities. Lyndsy was a very wonderful artist and these conditions prevent her from being able to draw and do other artistic things she enjoys doing. Even after all of these surgeries, Lyndsy's hands and feet have not gotten better to a point where she is able to perform her daily activities including writing, bathing and even walking. She currently takes about 30 pills a day to help with pain, inflammation, persistent coughing, GERD, and lung oxygenation. She is on oxygen 24/7.  She is undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation in order to qualify for her lung transplant. This helps strengthen her lungs, heart and improves her strength so she can tolerate and recover from the operation. She is now hoping for a bilateral (double) lung transplant from a surgeon at the Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC.

Her parents are currently in the process of preparing for Lyndsy and her father, Bryan, to move to the NY area. Bryan had to leave his teaching position as a college professor in order to provide Lyndsy's 24 hour care. She is required to move within an hour of the hospital from now until she would receive her lung transplant. She is then required to stay in that area for at least one year after the transplant in order to be close to the hospital for any follow-up care or problems that may arise. She will be battling against infection and rejection for the remainder of her life she will need to take anti-infection and rejection medication. However, the first year following her surgery will be the most critical.

Bryan and Lyndsy will have a lot of travel back and forth for doctors visits and Jodie will have the expense of traveling to NY in order to spend her weekend time with her husband and daughter after her full-time work week here in PA.

All donations received from this GoFundMe will be used to offset the expenses for travel and temporary housing while Lyndsy waits on the donor list as well as for the 12 months of post surgical care living in the NY area away from friends and family. Donors can leave a message for the family or may remain anonymous if you choose.