My name is Carol (Simmons) Launius. I need a double lung transplant to continue to live.
In 2010 I was
diagnosed with final stages of lung disease. Since then, my disease has
progressed to where I have to have a double lung transplant in order to survive
per my doctor at Spectrum Heart and Lung, Dr. Reba Gargis, Director.
I have a wonderful
husband who should be retired, but continues to work to pay my bills. My
husband, Dan, and I have five children and a young granddaughter who is the
brightest spot in my life right now. I am thankful I have survived to
welcome her into the world, and to have already had more time with her than was
once thought possible. It breaks my heart that I have become too weak to
hold her, and that I may not be here to see her grow up.
For the last four
years I have gone through surgeries, testing and been in-and-out of the
hospital. The things I love the most I can no longer do. I am on
oxygen 24/7 and most of my days are spent inside my house because I cannot get
in enough oxygen.
It is important for me
to know that you feel assured this is not a fraudulent plea for money, and I
feel you should know where your donations are going. That is one of the
many reasons I have chosen The National Foundation for Transplants for help in
my venture to raise money for my medical expenses, anti-rejection medications,
and all the other related expenses for which we cannot pay.
I do have
insurance, for which I am so very grateful, that will pay the majority of the
surgery (the average double-lung transplant costs nearly $800,000). However,
the costs for which we will still be responsible are beyond our grasp.
For example, a recent estimate of just my portion of the cost of medications is
$1,842.00 per month for life. And, beyond the cost of the transplant itself,
there are many other expenses related to the surgery, ongoing after care, and
the medications which are critical for the success of the transplant and my
survival which are insurmountable.
People have asked why I would go thru all of this
knowing that I
could die on the table.
I will certainly die if I do not.
I
want this chance at life to be with my family and enjoy what life has to
offer. I never imagined my retirement to be this way, I thought wow,
grandchildren, flower beds, my house projects, my dogs, my family, the beach,
take a ride to see the lake or sights, visiting friends, going for ice
cream. 
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to take the grand-kids to
Disney? Oh such simple things and I do miss them. My lungs are bad
but my heart is good, in my mind I feel young and I do try to enjoy every
moment I can.
I worked very hard my whole life. I raised my first son
alone and he has multiple significant health and mental challenges with which I
still help him. I am very proud of where he is today compared to what doctors
told me 40 years ago.
Loving him as I do, I
have no regrets; yet, I have lived and experienced the heart aches and
challenges.
Ibelieve this is a large part of why it has been my passion to help single Moms trying to clothe their children, or any family struggling to put food on the table, in any way I could when I was able.
I want to be able to do that again,
and for many
years to come.
I have never been on Twitter or had a blog, etc., so I have enlisted a very special friend to help me. Thank you, Barb, for proving my belief that prayers are answered.
You, too, can help answer prayers by making a tax-deductible donation to:
NFT in my honor, Carol Launius. To do so, you can follow this link:
I want to make a donation in honor of Carol Launius
Or, if you prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT Michigan 5350 Poplar Avenue,
Suite 430fe , Memphis , TN 38119
Or, you can visit my Go-Fund-Me Page:
You can also help by
passing this on to others. No amount is
too small.
Unless I can show I can support the care of new lungs,I will be removed from the transplant recipient wait list.
Thank you for your compassion, your generosity, and your gift of life!
