Didie’s Story

Didie had a rare lung disease (called Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension) possibly from a hole in her heart, that called for her to be on an oxygen hose and a central line of medication that was fed directly into her heart continuously, every day of her life for over six years. These lines kept her alive. It was a bittersweet situation, but that was her reality.

Her disease had progressed and medicine no longer helped her. After a lot of tests and discussions with her doctors, we all agreed that a double lung transplant is her last hope.

She was put on the transplant list in October 2007 and then we waited. We waited for the call that would change her life, by giving her life; a second chance to do all the things she had longed to do.

A lung transplant would give her freedom to move about spontaneously, without planning ahead, without getting tripped up on her lines, without first filling up numerous oxygen tanks, or taking medicine just in order to leave the house. No longer would she be a prisoner in her own home. She longed for the day to move about freely, drive on her own again and shop at length with friends and family (grocery shopping took two hours, and who likes to grocery shop?)

Now that you’ve read Didie’s Story, some of you may ask, “Why should you help my mother?” My answer is this. I do not know anyone more deserving of a second chance at life. If you’re fortunate enough to know her, you will know the spirit that is my mother. She is a true inspiration. Everyone she meets sees the light in her eyes, the grace in her demeanor and the intelligence and humor in her speech. She always has a positive spin on the negative and a kind word for anyone she meets.

One of the lessons I carry with me today comes from her. One day when I was little and complaining about someone being mean, she told me not to judge too quickly. “You never know what another may be going through at that moment in time.” This is one lesson I’ve tried to apply to everyone I meet and I believe it has made me a better person.

She is my role model and she is my strength. I feel she has a lot more of life’s lessons to teach me and to see her have the opportunity to pass these lessons on to her grandchildren would be the greatest gift. For this lung transplant will be a gift from God that isn’t just for her, but for me and her family as well.

As it turns out, She got her “Call” May 23, 2008. We packed up, headed down to Tuscon and began the lung transplantation process. And what a process it has been. We got our miracle! You can read the play by play on the home page, in the archives under May 24, 2008 posting.

Thank you for listening to our story and God Bless