Support Sharron's Lung Transplant Journey

Hi. My name is Lindsey, and over the past 6 years, I have been shown firsthand just how strong of a woman my mother Sharron Cobb truly is. In 2018, we received what we thought was the worst news ever... my mom had breast cancer.

Instead of letting panic or depression defeat her, Mama met breast cancer head on. In 2019 she had a double mastectomy. After a long recovery, lots of prayers, and a lot of support, we got far enough past the breast cancer that I think we all felt like we could breathe again without the fear of "the big C" constantly looming over her head. Never did we think that actually being able to take that literal breath was going to be the next obstacle Mama would have to face head on.

While COVID had everyone on lockdown, scared, confused, unsure of or regular everyday life and what tomorrow was going to look like, Mama got another devastating diagnosis. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis was not something that I heard of, but I knew that I had watched Mama have a much harder time catching her breath, seen her have what she called "coughing spells," and noticed that she didn't feel well a lot more frequently. If COVID didn't put the fear in us, IPF sure did! Sharron was scared, but she was confident that she would find a treatment that would at best stop the disease and possibly reverse some of the damage on her lungs and at worse help her find a comfortable stable ground and slow the progression enough to give us time to find another treatment or medicine or solution that would help. She Mama started a new medicine that was supposed to be "the best and only solution" for her, which made her horribly sick. After 6 grueling months with no improvements, she decided she couldn't take it any longer and stopped taking that medicine.

Defeated was an understatement. My mama was exhausted, mind and body. The doctor said that since there is no cure for IPF, the only hope for her was going to be getting a lung transplant. They sent her a referral to Duke Hospital in Durham NC, and the endless rounds of testing, trips, hoops to jump thru, bumps in the road, and setbacks began. The thought of a double lung transplant seems like nothing short of the most terrifying thing in the world, but at least it is hope. It's an option...it's the only option. Sharron's hope to breathe again is finally in her reach, but she needs our help!

The actual transplant surgery and recovery have to be the main focus for Mama right now. However, if you know Sharron, then you know she has her self-worried sick trying to figure out what to do. Part of the transplant program is relocating to the Durham area for a minimum of 3-4 months, and they got the request to relocate ASAP just last week. The panic over how they will cover relocating costs, manage bills at 2 houses, what will she do with her dogs, pay for medicine after her transplant (many of which are not covered by her insurance), and just the basic expenses of what's to come are already causing a noticeable change in her health. I am trying to raise donations to help cover some financial costs that will come with this relocation and lung transplant journey because I want nothing more than for my Mama to be able to smile, squeeze us tight in a hug, and just be able to breathe again...

If you would like to donate other ways, I have set up the following accounts for her to accept any donations you would like to give. Please keep Sharron in your prayers!