Eric Cummings
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Hello Patricia and all,
My name is Eric Cummings and I live in Portland Oregon area. Diagnosed w/IPF in Feb of 18 (although I believe I have had IPF for several years now just never knew what it was. This topic caught my eye as I am a recent bi-lateral lung tx recipient as of Jan 11th of this year. four and months post tx and I’m doing great. Still a bit weak and wobbly when I walk but continue to get stronger. Back in 2002 down home in Texas I had six (yes six) stents placed in my heart. Since then I have had no issues with my heart and or the stents. My case was originally submitted to UCSF in San Francisco where upon review I was denied due to the existing CAD and the six stents. My Pulmonologist (from Kaiser) then referred me to Stanford Medical here in Los Alto’s (about 20 miles south of SF) in the Bay Area in Dec of 19. Stanford is a top Heart and Lung Tx center in the US and they were not hesitant at all to review my case and ask me down for evaluation. Granted I am in relatively good shape and 58 years old. I experienced an acute exacerbation around Dec 11th, 19′ and was in the ER that evening in Portland. I was then transferred to Stanford Dec 17th to ICU. I was sent for a heart-cath where they found that all six of my previous stents were doing just fine and had no issues, they did find another area in my heart vessels where they felt the need to place another stent. That’s right I now have a total of “seven stents” and two new lungs.
Sorry for the long response but wanted to give you some context of what is available out there for your husband and to give you a little shot of HOPE. I am a living, breathing and believing example of never, never, never give up your hope and to keep on researching and seeking help from those of us that have gone before and are coming out the other side of IPF and other ILD diseases. I’d love to help and encourage in any way I can. Mine is to inform and advocate for my brothers and sisters that are walking this rare path with me.
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Hey Everybody, I tend to use “Well I’m on the right side of the grass and I’m still suckin air” so today is a good day? It sets a lighter mood to the whole thing.