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David needs new lungs round two.

  • Goal Changed

      22 November 2024
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    David has been waiting a year for his much needed double lung transplant and has been taken off the active transplant list. Our family and his kids are devastated. There is a chance that if he can become fit again he can be reassessed to be on the list. That is a huge uphill battle but he won’t give up.

    New goal as the total donated has been split on emergency funding throughout this year. We didn’t think we would be in this position. We thought lungs would come well before we had to use these funds. I have had to stop working to care for him.

    It’s not time to have a bucket list completed as without a transplant his health will decline gradually.

    We appreciate everything everyone has said and done to donate. You all have been so wonderful.

    He will keep fighting for a life with his family.

    He is due a bit of joy.

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  • Update coming September 20th

      4 September 2024

    An update will come after my next appointment on the 19th September. Watch this space

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  • Still waiting…

      5 June 2024
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    David’s asked me to write another update.

    Waiting is hard, every phone call from a private number gets the heart racing. He has been on the Auckland telemarking list lately and had multiple calls.

    Since our last update and consequently on our anniversary David had a major set back. He had a collapsed lung. Which took us to ED at hutt hospital. They later transferred him to Wellington hospital where he spent a week there. With hopes that the lung would inflate on its own. By day 3 they didn’t want to wait anymore and provided bedside surgery inserting a drain. I watched the procedure and held his hand through it, listening to the sound of the air trapped in the cavity surrounding his lung hiss out while they put the tube in. Many days at the hospital with daily chest X-rays hoping that it would inflate. It did! David was emailing the Auckland team to advise if he would still be on the list. They replied the next day to say yes. At this point he was very weak and feared the worst and that it was all over. He couldn’t move stand or breathe well after. I’ve dropped days at work to be home to help get his strength up and his chonnie his sister helps they days I am at work.

    We a due a trip to Auckland on the 13th June to go through the tests again to assess his strength surviving the surgery and remaining in the list.

    The funds that were raised, majority went on a car to fit all the kids and David’s wheel chair as our others are giving up on us.

    Praying for a call.

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  • Recent Hospital Visit

      14 March 2024
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    Overnight visit to Greenlane and Auckland city hospital for the 3monthly tests.

    These were the tests

    - Bloods

    - 6 minute walk

    - Echo (cardiac ultrasound)

    - Lung Function

    - Clinic

    The bloods showed an elevation in his kidney function. You need healthy kidneys to survive transplant. This is okay for now, they have lowered one of his meds for now to see if that makes a change.

    The 6 minute walk test. He made it all 6 minutes. The last 2 and a half minutes he can’t remember as his O2 levels dropped to 88 from 97. But he made it all the way and managed 377 metres in 6 minutes we were aiming for 400. They say 350 is the new cutoff at this point so he did well here.

    - his Echo on his heart was clear

    - lung function has gone down 3% to 23%

    Great news is that we are still on the list.

    The next test is in 3 months. We pray for the call before then, things just seem to be declining.

    David wants to still live his life, but is worried about the financial impact it would have. He wants to go see great white sharks, and fish on a charter and travel New Zealand while he can still walk.

    I’ve told him not to worry about the house, cars, or financials we will make that happen.

    So next step is to work on the bucket list and tick off the things he has always wanted to do.

    I have so much love and respect for him, he deserves a full life. Full of love, happiness, and amazing memories.

    I’ll carry the oxygen, let’s go!!!

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  • Hospital Appointment 3 month check up

      11 March 2024
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    Tomorrow we fly to Auckland from Wellington to meet with the respiratory doctors.

    This visit is to be every 3 months as usual. They do a range of tests to check lung function and bloods results to keep an eye on his kidneys and liver while waiting for transplant. They have him doing a new test called a cardiac ultrasound. The most nerve racking test is the 6 minute walk. He can barely walk to the kitchen while on oxygen without losing his breath. He needs to achieve at least 400metres in 6 minutes with good O2 stats to still be considered for transplant and remain on the list.

    We stay positive. With a few moments of doubt and anxiety.

    After these tests on Wednesday we will know more and will post as update.

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  • 94 Days and counting

      18 February 2024
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    David and I want to thank everyone who has donated so far to our family. The response has been so heart warming. Thank you to all that have shared our givealittle page and all your kind messages.

    Update on David. He has been on the wait list for 94 days. Since we created this page David is now on oxygen 16 hours a day. The hospital organised a wheelchair for us so I can push him around and keep his life as normal as possible.

    He is struggling with normal day to day tasks and has to limited himself with what he is able to do.

    If the worst had happened back in June he would not be here to witness his cousins amazing 50th in Hamilton, or his best friends wedding.

    Since then we have celebrated his 38th birthday, been to family Christmas, celebrated the twins 2nd birthday and Myas 9th birthday and spent Valentine’s Day together. February has been a busy month.

    We are due another visit early march to Auckland hospital to do his checkup tests, these will tell us if he can still be on the wait list or if he is too sick for transplant. We will worry about that when we get there. For now we are grateful for everyday while we wait by the phone.

    #builtdifferent

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