Jennifer was born prematurely January 30th. 1987 at Mercy Hospital in Miami, Florida. She had to be intubated immediately and transported to the Intensive Care Unit at Miami Children's Hospital.

She was diagnosed with a condition called Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) which is a type of chronic lung disease, that affects her breathing capacity.

She spent her first 22 months in the ICU, having numerous surgeries performed, including cardiac, gastro and pulmonary. She has also had several surgeries insert chest tubes that help release and accumulation of air in her chest.

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During 2001 her pulmonary function declined drastically to about 18% (normal lung function is about 80%-100%) increasing the urgency of a bilateral lung transplant (both lungs).

If a lung transplant is not done in a timely fashion, her lung function, which has already worsened, will deteriorate to the point that she will die. [For more details, see Dr. Rub's letter).

The lung transplant is scheduled to be done at St. Louis Children's Hospital.

There are two types of transplants:

• From a deceased donor. She is on the waiting list which is about an 18 month wait.

• From a living donor. In this case a lobar is transplanted from two different compatible donors, one lobar from the right lung and one from the left.

In order to become a donor, you have to contact Ann M. Doyle (RN Pulmonary Nurse Coordinator SLH) at 314-454-8728 or doylea@msnotes.wustl.edu.