UW LUNG TRANSPLANT SUPPORT GROUP

Emily Monfort

I was fortunate to enjoy a very active, full childhood and adolescence, although CF was of course a daily presence and daily fight. My parents and I chose to take this disease head on and never let it rule my life, and we have always done everything we can to help me lead the most normal and active life possible, while still being compliant and staying on top of my intensive care regime.

I love to travel and spend time in the outdoors. I grew up white water rafting, hiking, camping, and skiing with my family. In college I worked as a river guide and began rock climbing. I have traveled to Australia, Belize, Guatemala, France, Belgium, Germany, England, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and many places within the U.S. I have had the awesome experience of going on two different three week long white water rafting trips through the Grand Canyon down the Colorado River. I have also rafted all over Oregon and in Idaho, and I can't wait to get my new lungs on their first river trip! Before the drastic decline in my health this past year I lead an active yoga practice, and I am also looking forward to resuming that as I heal from my surgery.

I attended the University of Oregon and Lane Community College, and had just applied to Nursing School when it became apparent that it was time to start pursuing the option of transplant. I chose to withdraw my application, and I have yet to decide if I will continue to pursue nursing or not. I love to read, knit, write, and make jewelry, and recently I have been enjoying rediscovering my more artistic side through painting.

In 2004 I was diagnosed with CF Related Diabetes and a rare and complicated fungal infection in my lungs. I ended up having to get a lobectomy to remove the upper lobe of my right lung in December of 2005 to help treat the fungus. After many complications and a three month stay in the hospital I was also diagnosed with Chronic Adrenal Insufficiency and had to have a second surgery on the same lung. Even with all the complications the lobectomy gained me about three years, and I recovered well and became stable again, although with a new baseline.

I have always struggled with hemoptysis, and that begin to slowly increase over the past five years. About a year ago (March 2008) while I was in the Virgin Islands I had an episode of massive hemoptysis, losing over one-third of my total blood volume. After that I sort of fell off the cliff health wise, and no matter what I or my doctor's did, it became very apparent that it was time for new lungs. After much deliberation and research on my part I began the evaluation process for transplant last September (2008) and was then listed in early February of 2009. Even though I am just one month out from my transplant, I can already see how amazingly different and wonderful my life is, because I CAN BREATHE!!! Actually as soon as they extubated me I could feel the difference. Even with the post-surgical pain, it was just amazing to be able to take a full deep breath and NOT COUGH!!!

Thank you to the UW Transplant Team, you guys are awesome and I am so thankful for this new lease on life that you have given me!!