Amy Sutten-Schattenkerk

Amy Sutten-Schattenkerk

Transplant Type:  Double Lung

Update: Amy received a double-lung transplant on May 31, 2018!

Amy Sutten-Schattenkerk is alive today thanks to the incredible Transplant Team at the University of Washington Medical Center, the collective contributions of our wonderful Medicare/Medicaid programs, and the generosity of friends and loved ones who donated to her NFT fundraiser account. In brief, here is her story:

In 2014 Amy was diagnosed with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) and congestive heart failure. PAH is a horrendous disease that currently has no cure. The treatments are few and their long-term effectiveness is limited. By December of 2016 Amy was at the end of her treatment options. A Hickman catheter was implanted with a 24-hour pump supplying medicine directly to her heart every few seconds. It was the only thing keeping her alive. Any disruption to the flow of medicine to her heart, even for 10 minutes, would mean certain death.

Doctors said a double lung transplant was critical to her survival. A referral was submitted to the UWMC and by February of 2017, Amy had completed all of the preliminary medical workups and had been placed on the transplant waiting list. It was during this preliminary workup that Amy learned that she needed to have an absolute minimum of $5,000 in cash reserves to cover transplant-related expenses. The wonderful social worker at the UW suggested that Amy contact the National Foundation for Transplants, a non-profit organization that helps transplant patients with the organization of fundraising events.

In the months to come Amy's health continued to deteriorate. The I.V. treatment was extremely hard on her body, with side effects that were nearly as harsh as the disease itself. Calls for transplant came on 4 separate occasions, each one ending in a "dry run" due to various problems with the donor lungs. Amy was reaching the end of her endurance when, after 15 months on the waiting list, she finally received her transplant.

Amy is extremely grateful to her Donor and her family and all the many people who helped make her transplant possible. The generous contributions of friends and family have enabled her to live in Seattle for the 3 months post-transplant. They have also helped make all the necessary return trips possible there check ups are approximatly every three months. Expenses also have included a prolonged hospital stay (23 days) that was required when Amy suffered a set-back in September 2018 and two hospitalizations in 2020 to treat a virus she was unable to get rid of due to her immune suppression.

Amy is learning that the post-transplant journey is not without a few bumps in the road. While the complications resulting from transplant have been relatively manageable, they have also been numerous. Amy has made multiple trips back to the UWMC, as well as to clinics at the OHSU. She also utilizes local providers with an average of 2-3 doctor appointments a week. Transplant related expenses have continued to come in and fortunately, Amy's NFT fund is there to help.

Amy is dedicated to maintaining her health no matter what it takes. Communication with the Donor's family has steeled her resolve. Along with the love of her immediate family, her great joy is a new grandson! This, coupled with her desire to care for her aging parents, inspires her to continue to push herself in her recovery process. With the support of her loving husband, she feels she has a lot to live for. It is for this reason that Amy turns once again to the generosity of family, friends, and her community for help in maintaining her NFT funds. Your gift to Amy's fund will enable her to remain consistent with all her needed transplant appointments, out of pocket medication, and many treatment needs.

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to NFT in honor of Amy. If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT Oregon Transplant Fund, 3249 W. Sarazens Circle, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38125. Please be sure to write "in honor of Amy Sutten-Schattenkerk” on the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: University of Washington Medical Center