lung transplant

DEALIN’ CARDS FOR AMBER

Most 25-year-olds wouldn’t think twice about taking the dog out for a hike, walking up a flight of stairs or even going outside to grab the mail on a hot day. But for Amber Wesemann, these seemingly simple activities are difficult — if not out of the question. But then again, most young adults are fortunate enough to live without cystic fibrosis (CF).

Amber Wesemann
Weseman was diagnosed as a baby with CF, a terminal disease that affects the mucus-producing cells of the body, especially those of the lungs and digestive system. As CF progresses, the pulmonary function of the lungs decreases. Currently, Wesemann’s pulmonary function is 25 percent. She is prone to damaging infections of the lungs due to underperformance by the cells that normally keep the lungs clear of infection.

Hope might come in the form of a little-known procedure called a living-donor lobar lung transplant. Every person has five lobes in each lung, and one of those lobes can successfully be removed. Two living donors would provide lobes to be transplanted into Wesemann’s chest to serve as her primary lungs until a full lung transplant is possible. Normally, donors would be easier to find than they are in Wesemann’s case: She has the rare B-negative blood type, shared by only a small percentage of the population.

So where to find donors? In Eugene, perhaps. On Sunday a benefit poker tournament will be held to raise money and awareness, and hopefully to find willing lobe donors. The Texas hold ‘em style tournament start at 2 pm and takes place at four bars around the city. At each bar, participants are given a playing card for their poker hands. The tournament ends at the Downtown Lounge, where prizes will be given out for the best and worst poker hands. The benefit was arranged by Allison Kramer, one of Wesemann’s best friends since childhood, and by Kramer’s boyfriend, Casey Johnson. The money raised will go toward supporting the lobe donors while they are in the hospital and throughout their recovery process.

Without the lobe transplant, Wesemann will have to manage until she is selected among hundreds for a full lung transplant. “I’ve been on the list for three years,” Wesemann says, “and they’ve moved maybe two people off the list in that amount of time. But my age is perfect, and since last May the people who have the more severe cases will be given first consideration. So I should be up near the top of the list.”

Information will be available at the Downtown Lounge Sunday about living donor transplants, and full details about the event as well as information about donations can be found at www.angelsforamber.com — Emily Freeman
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