Theresa Redding

Theresa Redding

Transplant Type: Double Lung

What if you were living on borrowed time?

Theresa Redding is fighting for her life. She has suffered from shortness of breath since 2006. Despite quitting smoking in 2011 after 34 years, her breathing issues persisted. In November 2011, she was finally diagnosed with COPD and had to be put on oxygen; sadly, even with her smoking history, her pulmonologist does not understand how her lungs were in such poor condition. Now, Theresa is operating with 20% lung capacity, and doctors say a double lung transplant is critical to her survival.

Theresa is extremely grateful for the love of her family,  which includes 5 daughters, 2 sons-in-law, and 4 granddaughters and 1 grandson.  She has been actively involved with raising two of her granddaughters, Amelia and Krissie, as well as aiding in the care of her mother, who at 78 years old had a stroke leaving her with right sided deficits.  In 2018, Theresa had a right hip replacement and the following month her mother had her stroke.  Her mother had a second severe stroke in March of 2020 and passed away.  While it is not always easy for Theresa to spend time with family due to the constraints of her illness, her family is the reason she is fighting so hard to survive.

Unfortunately, Theresa also has trouble enjoying her favorite activities. Although she is limited by her oxygen tank, she is still able to take photos, drive, and  do some shopping, albeit in a limited capacity. She is no longer able to swim, hike, bike, or even walk her dog. More than anything, Theresa is looking forward to returning to her active lifestyle—working as a nurse, and spending time with family, volunteering and enjoying her favorite activities.  But, right now, she needs your help.

However, Theresa’s need for new lungs comes at a very high price.

The average double lung transplant costs over $1 million. And that’s only the beginning. Even with insurance, which will cover a portion of the transplant costs, she still faces significant expenses related to the surgery. For the rest of her life, she will need follow-up care and anti-rejection medications. Post-transplant medications are very expensive, and they’re as critical to her survival as the transplant itself.

When she receives her transplant, Theresa must temporarily relocate over 640 miles from her home to be near the hospital during the recovery process, incurring substantial expenses for travel, food, and lodging for her and her required caregiver. Additionally, Theresa had to quit her job as a nurse and her subsequent job at a drug and alcohol treatment center because of her declining health and need for an oxygen tank.  She was working part-time as an associate at Wal-Mart right up until having to have the right hip replacement and having no option but to end employment there, (due to not having enough time in to take a leave of abscence), increasing the financial strain of her much-needed transplant.

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to the National Foundation for Transplants in honor of Theresa.

If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the NFT Montana Transplant Fund, 3249 W. Sarazen’s Circle, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38125. Please be sure to write "in honor of Theresa Redding” in the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Transplant Center: University of Washington Medical Center