All I can say is thank you. While a lung transplant is a major operation that can involve many complications, it improved my health and quality of life. Thank you for another chance to be able to breathe again, to be a husband to my loving wife, a father to my children and grandfather to my grandkids. I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis in 2009, then with Pulmonary Fibrosis, and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in 2015. The scaring in my lungs had gotten so bad that I only had about 40% of my right lung functioning. After many talks with my doctors and my family I decided to get listed for a double lung transplant.
I knew I couldn’t go on living my life in this manner. The things I once took for granted, (showering, dressing myself, eating, just to get out of bed and walk to another room), I could not do without gasping for air. Watching my wife pull oxygen tanks and a wheelchair in and out of our vehicle just so I could go to the doctor, or attend family events was so disheartening. Now, I can do all of these things and much more with the healthy lungs I’ve received from my donor. I’m forever thankful for your generosity.
I began the evaluation process at the Cleveland Clinic in the fall of 2017. While going through this process, I decided to get on a dual transplant listing, which meant that I had to complete two evaluations. I thought this would broaden my chances of receiving a pair of donor lungs. After 6 months of testing, traveling between the two facilities I was listed. My health had declined rapidly. Twelve days later, I received an offer for Double Lungs. We traveled to Cleveland and I received such a precious gift of life. Through your generosity, I received a second chance at life.
I’m so happy that we live in a world where organ donations are being embraced as a fundamental human responsibility. People are added to a transplant list every day. People die because the organ they needed was not donated in time. Words cannot express the gratitude that I have for my donor family. I thank you for blessing me and others like me, while grieving for your loved one.
Glenn Kindell
