Grendel,
As far as affording a 2nd tx, it is hard. It is hard to afford the first one. Most insurances will cover a 2nd tx.
As far as moving, living expenses... first... not everyone has to relocate. 2nd, many people raise money for tx expenses. My company I worked for raised the money for me to cover my rent, and expenses... .so no money out of my pocket.
Get a group of friends together and start planning how this can be done. More people, more resources and more money.
As far as the "ethics" of retransplant.... hmmm... that is something that is very full of many feelings for me. I have friends who got their lungs and immediately things were not good.... should they not get another chance? Why wouldn't they be entitled, it was no fault of theirs. For the person who had their tx, 5 years, 8 years, 10years and now need retransplant, should they not get another set of lungs? Well, if they have been compliant, followed the rules of the their center,, take care of themselves, why not give them another set? They have proven they are not a bad risk. Someone who is a first time recipient might be a bad risk, not take care of themselves, not take meds as told, even turn to smoking ( Yes I know a CFer who never smoked pre tx, but post tx she did.) so they are not proven, while the long term one has proven they are not a risk.
It is an emotional filled topic I am sure... lots of thinking... option research is in call.
Joanne Schum
As far as affording a 2nd tx, it is hard. It is hard to afford the first one. Most insurances will cover a 2nd tx.
As far as moving, living expenses... first... not everyone has to relocate. 2nd, many people raise money for tx expenses. My company I worked for raised the money for me to cover my rent, and expenses... .so no money out of my pocket.
Get a group of friends together and start planning how this can be done. More people, more resources and more money.
As far as the "ethics" of retransplant.... hmmm... that is something that is very full of many feelings for me. I have friends who got their lungs and immediately things were not good.... should they not get another chance? Why wouldn't they be entitled, it was no fault of theirs. For the person who had their tx, 5 years, 8 years, 10years and now need retransplant, should they not get another set of lungs? Well, if they have been compliant, followed the rules of the their center,, take care of themselves, why not give them another set? They have proven they are not a bad risk. Someone who is a first time recipient might be a bad risk, not take care of themselves, not take meds as told, even turn to smoking ( Yes I know a CFer who never smoked pre tx, but post tx she did.) so they are not proven, while the long term one has proven they are not a risk.
It is an emotional filled topic I am sure... lots of thinking... option research is in call.
Joanne Schum