Transplant Type - Lung

We are thrilled to report that Natalie received her lung transplant on September 23, 2011!

When she was just 4 years old, Natalie underwent a bone marrow transplant to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). During the recovery process, she had a rare reaction to an antibiotic, which caused Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a severe skin disorder. Shortly thereafter, she was diagnosed with brochiectasis, an obstructive lung disease. She battled these illnesses her entire life, and doctors said a lung transplant was critical to her survival.

Despite these challenges, Natalie remained positive and determined to live. She and her husband, Isaac, have a young son. She looks forward to running and playing with him without being short of breath. More than anything, she wants to resume her normal activities and spend many more years with Isaac and their son. But she needs your help.

A lung transplant costs approximately $450,000. And that's only the beginning. Before the transplant center will add her to the transplant waiting list, she must raise $26,000. Even with health insurance, Natalie 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.

Although she was a medical assistant, Natalie has had trouble finding a job because she has been sick and in the hospital so often, adding to her financial strain. It is also difficult for Isaac to work because he takes her to all of her doctors' appointments and takes care of their son.

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

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: Duke University Medical Center