Karen Ettinger

Karen Ettinger

Transplant Type - Double-lung

In 1997, Karen began experiencing shortness of breath; and she was eventually diagnosed with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a rare genetic disorder that significantly damaged her lungs. Doctors said a double-lung transplant was critical to her survival. After six long years on the transplant waiting list, she received the life-changing call that a donor match had been found.

She was awoken at 2:45 a.m., and her heart pounded as she made her way to the hospital for the surgery. Although the surgery was much more complicated than her medical team had anticipated, she received her new lungs on February 1, 2012! She spent a month in the hospital and faced some frightening challenges, including atrial fibrillation and a coding episode in the ICU, but today she is grateful and overwhelmed at her progress over the last four years.

Karen continues to receive follow-up care from her medical team, and she requires 20-22 pills per day to keep her new lungs healthy. She is thankful beyond words for her transplant, and she never wants to take a day for granted. She finds great joy in the simplest of daily activities, whether it’s running errands, exercising or her most treasured joy—playing with her grandson. Karen looks at transplantation as a journey, and she believes the way you travel your journey defines what kind of warrior you are. She is determined to honor her donor with the most valiant effort she can give because there will never be enough words to thank the donor and their family who gave her the precious gift of life.

The average double-lung transplant costs more than $1 million. And that’s only the beginning. Even with insurance, which covers a portion of her transplant-related costs, she still faces significant expenses. For the rest of her life, she will need follow-up care and anti-rejection medications, which are critical to her survival.

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

Thank you for your generosity!

Patient Health Institute: University of Michigan Transplant Center