2007 Transplants

A note to caregivers. We have no way of knowing when someone gets a transplant unless we are notified.  If you want other members of the group to be able to share your good news, send an email to the uwlung website (with photo, if possible)

Curt Shadduck, an IPF patient from Klamath Falls, OR, moved to Seattle in Sept. He was put on the transplant list  on Oct 10, 2007, and recveived a single right lung on December 4. (he attended the Dec 11 meeting in his hospital PJ's with his drain tube still in.) He seems to be doing great.

Cathy Knutz was transplanted Oct 10. Cathy had IPF and she lives in Hermiston, OR.

Linda Mason, of Yamhill, OR, received neew lungs on Sept, 12. She had COPD and was listed  for two and one half months. Her hospital stay was 12 days and she is doing well.

Frank Taylor was transplanted in June. I'll let him describe the experience.   " In 1996 my primary doctor referred me to a pulmonary doctor because of my increasing windedness'.  The pulmonary doctor, (in Spokane, Washington where I live) sent me to Deaconess Medical Center to get a lung biopsy.  Based on the sample, it was found that I had 'intersicial fibrosis'.  After that, my pulmonary doctor put me on several prednisone tapers to help restrict the progress of the disease.  Eventually I needed prescribe oxygen as well.  However, after about 11 years, my breathing capacity got so low that it was recommended that I consider a lung transplant.  After visiting the UWMC a couple of times, I finally was put on the lung recipent list June 1, 2007.  About 2 weeks later, (June 20th) I recieved the 'call' from one of the transplant nurses at the UWMC.  A friend of my sister's drove my mother and I to the 'Medstar' airport where they wisked us away to a Seattle airport, then by ambulance to the UWMC.  After several blood tests, I was sent to the operating  room and recieved my transplant in the early hours of June 21, 2007.  After the operation, I was in ICU for 5 weeks, then in a hospital room and finally a couple of weeks in Physical Rehabilitation.   I was discharged from the hospital on August 21st and currently come to the UWMC as an 'out patient'

Robin Prentice, of Seattle, was transplanted on Oct 10, after almost three months on the list. She spent 8 days in the hospital. She is shown with her mother/caregiver, Dee. Robin had IPF.

Jami Levy, after coping with COPD for 20 years, was transplanted on May 14. She had been on the list for about 3 weeks.Jami lives in West Seattle and is doing well.

Roger McIntyre, from Yelm, Wa had a double lung transplant on June 9th and is doing well. He and his wife, Jan, are staying at the Queen Anne Transplant House.

Mark Flechsing, from Alaska, was transplanted on July 2, the operation starting at 10:15 AM. Mark had IPF. He and his wife Juanita are staying in Transplant House's Eastside apartment house in Totem Lake.All seems to be going well.

23 year old Max Haggerty, from Eugene Oregon, (GO DUCKS!),  received his new lungs April 6th, 2007, over the Easter Weekend.  Happy Spring everyone -and special, special, thank you so very much to his donor family. What a gift!  U DUB team --you guys are awesome.

Brook Travis, a 17 year old CF patient from Entiat, WA, received a second lung transplant on March 28. She had her first transplant at Stanford University Medical Center in 2004. She developed rejection problems last July and entered the UWMC on January 3, and spent the past 5 weeks on a ventilator waiting for lungs to become available.

Aaron Greene, another CF patient was transplanted March 8, 2007, after 75 days on the waiting list that included one dry run. He is 24 years old and has an Information Technology degree and has been working for Safeway..

Steve Jenkins, a 23 year old CF patient was transplanted March 6, 2007, after spending 20 months on the waiting list. Steve has completed two and one half years at Seattle University and hopes to return in the fall.

Lisa Sedwick, celebrated her 25th birthday on March 11 by being intubated during a stay at UWMC. She was transplanted on March 18. Lisa has cystic fibrosis.  After a series of complications that kept her in the hospital most of the time, she finally made it to the July meeting. She looked fine but is still coping with a rare post transplant lymphoma called PTLD.

Jaunita McTarsney was transplanted on January 31, 2007, after about 8 months on the waiting list. She spent 12 days in the hospital and is doing great.

Richard Barr with his wife, Berdiene. Richard received a single lung transplant on 1/3/07 and is reportedly doing "great". They are from Enterprise, Oregon.