Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
is a deadly disease without a cure. Breathing, something that comes so easy and simple for you and I, can be exhausting for someone with CF. April fights everyday to be able to spend time with her 2 year old baby girl, Miracle.
A double lung transplant will make it possible for April to play with Miracle, to go for walks, to breathe! But with very limited resources and on disability, any and all donations will greatly help offset April's medical expense and make this transplant possible.
'Help April Breathe Easy' is a charity organization created as an opportunity to help April achieve this goal. Please take a few minutes to read more of April's journey at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/AprilWagner. For more information on upcoming events or recent interactions, visit us here!
Recent News
11/30 - April is doing great and is walking 30 laps around the nurses station and down the hall! She will be going to her 'temporary' home in a day or two. She is doing really wonderful and is looking forward to getting OUT of the hospital. It has been a long month!
11/21 - April is off the respirator and breathing on her own and sitting up in a chair talking to us! She is still in a little pain but doing great. We hope to go to the next level in the step down program. So wonderful
11/20 - Another offer and this time the lungs are good and for April. She went into pre-op at 1:30p and the new lungs were in place by 6:46p and they were finished by 8:00pm. How Awesome is that! April is doing great and we will be able to see here at 10 pm. Can't wait!! So excited.
11/16 - An offer was made to April and another patient and the closest match would be the recipent. After 7 hours of waiting, the lungs weren't viable. Our first Dry run. We pray we won't have any more, it is extremely emotionaly exhausting and disappointing.
11/11 - April is in the hospital and will stay until she has her transplant. She is very weak and needs more oxygen. Pray we get an offer.
11/10 - April is finally Listed!!! She is on the top of Dukes list and their average waiting time is 12 days!!
11/07 - the Poker Run and the Scentsy Fundraiser was a wonderful success and we want to thank everyone who participated. Thank you to all for coming out to support April.
11/04 - April's Lung infection was worse so Pinkey and April went to Duke to see the Lung Specialist. She was not admitted but Pinkey and April did sign the consent forms for the transplant. There is only one lab test she has to take before she can be put on the list. The appointment is on Tuesday, Nov. 9th.
11/01/10 - Rehab for April
10/29/10 - We did not receive word on April's placement on the lung transplant list or if she has been added. They may need further tests. Hopefully we will find out on Monday. Waiting is horrible.
10/25/10 - Rehab all week for April.
10/18/10 - April will not be going to rehab this week as several things have happened. The transplant doctors want all the lab work and health evaluations completed and brought before the doctors panel to determine if she is ready to be listed. So today, April has 4 doctors appointments, Tuesday she has three, Wednesday none, Thursday she has three and Friday she has a heart catherization. Tuesday of next week the doctors will discuss her case, along with other lung transplant recipients and decide what happens next. We should know by next friday.
10/14/10 - April didn't get any encouraging news from the doctor. This may be the best she feels until after her transplant. She has to finish her strength building rehab to make ready for the transplant even if she is in all this pain. That has to be finished before the transplant doctors consider her as a recipient. Her mother will be driving her to rehab every day as April is to weak to drive.
10/12/2010 - April continues to struggle with her weight. She now weights in at 90 pounds and has not been able to eat any solid food since her surger. She is in a lot of stomach pain and very listless. April has an appointment to see her Dr. in two days.
10/02/2010 - April is still in a lot of pain but is doing great otherwise. She spent time with her baby girl, who is such a blessing. Miracle laid with her mommy and hardly moved, knowing that she may hurt her mommy. April was a happy Mommy being able to see her baby girl.
10/01/2010 - April had her surgery at 7:30am and did well, except she had severe nausea, which kept her in recovery for 4 hours. Now she just needs to rest.
9/27/2010 - April was admitted to the hospital for a lung infection and she will not have the surgery until Friday Oct. 1st.
9/21/2010 - April is scheduled to have surgery on Sept. 27th to have the J-tube put in and have her stomach wrapped. Hopefully this will help with her bad reflux and vomiting.
9/18/2010 - And if I thought the yard sale was a success the chicken plate dinner was just as AWESOME !! I still can't get over how generous people are!! Thank you so much for the outstanding support you have shown us during these benefits! It fills the heart with joy!!
9/11/2010 - OMG ! The yard sale was a qualifing success! So many items were donated and peope came to buy from everywhere. Some came to donate and it was such an awesome sight!! Thanks to everyone! Praise God for everything!!!
9/06/2010 - Long Branch was fantastic! Many friends and family members showed up to make it a great and wonderful time. Thanks to Ron, Tom and Traci!!
8/17/2010 - OMG!! April is Engaged to her Man, Ron !!!
8/15/2010 - Yea! April has busted out of the hospital! She still needs to have the feeding tubes replaced but she can stay at home until this surgery is scheduled. Until then it is Caregiver Classes for Pinkey and Strenght Classes for April to prepare her for the double Lung transplant. We need to get our ducks in a row or we won't be close to finishing our fund raising events!
8/6/2010 - 'Help April Breathe Easy' T Shirts are IN ! Please contact Pinkey or email us at help.april.breathe.easy@gmail.com! Here is a picture of the T-shirt. Adults $12, Youths $8.
8/6/2010 - 'Help April Breathe Easy' Website Launch
On 8/6/2010, we launched our new website. We invite you to take a look around the website and tell your friends to come see us too by using our new Spread the Word website tool.