Transplant Type - Double-Lung

We are thrilled to report that Karen received her double-lung transplant on February 1, 2012!

Karen began experiencing shortness of breath in 1997, which continually worsened. The following year, she saw a pulmonologist, who diagnosed her with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a rare genetic disorder that caused irreversible damage to her lungs. Although she was lucky to be diagnosed so early, doctors said she needed a double-lung transplant to survive. Karen was added to the transplant waiting list at the University of Michigan Transplant Center in 2006.

Despite her health problems, Karen has remained grateful for everything she has and spends as much time as possible with her brothers, step-son, grandson and friends. Because of her declining health, she hasn't been able to enjoy her favorite outdoor activities of gardening and fishing, but on good days she can do craft projects. More than anything she hopes to spend many more years watching her young grandson grow up. But she needs your help.

A double-lung transplant costs approximately $650,000. And that's only the beginning. Even with health insurance, Karen faces significant medical expenses related to her transplant. For the rest of her life, she will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month--and they are as critical to her survival as the transplant itself.

Karen's health issues forced her to stop working in 2004, adding to her financial strain.

You can help.
To make a donation to NFT in honor of Karen, click the link below her photo. If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT Michigan Lung Fund, 5350 Poplar Avenue, Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Please be sure to write "in honor of Karen Ettinger" on the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: University of Michigan Transplant Center