01-03-2025, 06:00 PM
Hi friends,
I wanted to let you know how the youngsters are doing down at Duke University in NC.
First and foremost, thank you for your kindness to our family. The Go-Fund-Me campaign has hit the goal and more. Thoughts, prayers and reaching out with kind words are comfort as well. This has been a great relief and helped Chaz and Rima with the move to North Carolina. Damned expensive!
Since this is Rima's second double lung transplant she has realistic expectations of the program and what to do.
They arrived on December 1st and immediately Rima started being evaluated for entry into the lung transplant program.
After two weeks of testing she was accepted into phase one, the Relocation Program, also know as boot camp. Boot camp is every day with few days off, thus relocation. She will not be put on the waiting list for lungs until she’s met her personal boot camp goals. I’m not sure what all of the goals are but gaining weight was one of them. After she is “listed” she remains in boot camp until lungs become available. Last time she waited 8 months.
Rima’s network within the transplant and CF community has made the relocation easy. C&R had made arrangements to stay with friends for a month while looking for an apartment. However, within two weeks the network had found a single level, two bedroom townhouse within five miles of the hospital.
Rima’s sister, Laima, drove Rima’s packed car down before Christmas. They’ve got their clothes, pillows, blankies, and comfort items. Laima, who was Rima’s caregiver for her first transplant, has been a great help in navigating the system. She made sure all was well and then returned home to Colorado. She plans on going down to NC when it’s time for surgery.
Duke has social workers, councilors and support groups for not only Rima but for her caregivers, (aka Chaz).
They know I am always available for them. I'll go when they call. I expect to go help out with post op recovery.
Sending much gratitude and thanks to you.
Now I’m going to cue up Tom Petty “The waiting is the hardest part.”
Warmly,
Kate
I wanted to let you know how the youngsters are doing down at Duke University in NC.
First and foremost, thank you for your kindness to our family. The Go-Fund-Me campaign has hit the goal and more. Thoughts, prayers and reaching out with kind words are comfort as well. This has been a great relief and helped Chaz and Rima with the move to North Carolina. Damned expensive!
Since this is Rima's second double lung transplant she has realistic expectations of the program and what to do.
They arrived on December 1st and immediately Rima started being evaluated for entry into the lung transplant program.
After two weeks of testing she was accepted into phase one, the Relocation Program, also know as boot camp. Boot camp is every day with few days off, thus relocation. She will not be put on the waiting list for lungs until she’s met her personal boot camp goals. I’m not sure what all of the goals are but gaining weight was one of them. After she is “listed” she remains in boot camp until lungs become available. Last time she waited 8 months.
Rima’s network within the transplant and CF community has made the relocation easy. C&R had made arrangements to stay with friends for a month while looking for an apartment. However, within two weeks the network had found a single level, two bedroom townhouse within five miles of the hospital.
Rima’s sister, Laima, drove Rima’s packed car down before Christmas. They’ve got their clothes, pillows, blankies, and comfort items. Laima, who was Rima’s caregiver for her first transplant, has been a great help in navigating the system. She made sure all was well and then returned home to Colorado. She plans on going down to NC when it’s time for surgery.
Duke has social workers, councilors and support groups for not only Rima but for her caregivers, (aka Chaz).
They know I am always available for them. I'll go when they call. I expect to go help out with post op recovery.
Sending much gratitude and thanks to you.
Now I’m going to cue up Tom Petty “The waiting is the hardest part.”
Warmly,
Kate