Kevin R., TX

I am 64 years old. I’ve been a machinist since I was 18 years old, I like playing a lot of games on my iPad and playing with my dog Milo.

I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis around the end of December 2022.  

I went into the hospital for the first time January 29 of 2023 for respiratory failure with hypoxia. I was in the hospital from January 30 to February 7. My second visit to the emergency room was on March 5 through March 10 for respiratory failure with hypoxia. My third visit to the emergency room was on March 23 through April 7 for respirator failure with hypoxia. My fourth visit to the emergency room was May 18 through May 20 for respiratory failure with hypoxia and then my fifth visit to the ER was June 11 through June 14 for respiratory failure with hypoxia. Fortunately, that was the last visit to the emergency room. It needs to be noted that every visit to the hospital resulted in an ambulance ride to the emergency room and they put me in ICU as soon as I arrived at the emergency room.

My doctor suggested I start pulmonary therapy around August of 23. At the time I was unable to walk 10 yards without having to sit down and catch my breath. This decision is really what started the change in my future, and what has kept me out of the hospital thus far. Going back thinking about it. I guess I started noticing around spring of 2022 that I was having problems breathing I had no energy. I went to see my PCP and she sent me to my pulmonar doctor who did several test and November 2022 and the diagnosis was determined in December 2022 that I have pulmonary fibrosis and it seems like I went downhill from there and that’s when my hospital visits started, I have been on oxygen 24/7 since February 2023.   

As all this was going on, I was starting to be evaluated by the transplant center for a transplant.    

In March I was unable to continue working, so I was terminated and left without income. I started the process of filing for Social Security and believe me this is not fun in December 2023. I was finally approved for Social Security disability.   

In August 2023 my evaluation went to the transplant board where it was determined that there were eight things that needed to be addressed before they would consider me for a transplant which brings us to present where I have officially completed all request made by the transplant board. I am currently waiting to find out if I am eligible for a lung transplant.