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Woman needs new lungs, heart, in her fight to stay alive
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| Kari Posekany is surrounded by her family in this photo. They are (l-r) Alex, 5, her husband Chris, Hannah, 3, Madison, 7, and Christopher, 10. Kari is scheduled to undergo a heart, double lung transplant. A benefit for her and her family will be held Satuday, June 28, 4 to 10 p.m., at the American Legion in Oelwein. |
By Deb Kunkle
OELWEIN – Former Oelwein resident Kari (Hansen) Posekany, now of Cedar Falls, is in a battle for her life. Her sister DeAnn Michels, along with the whole Hansen family and several friends are putting together a benefit Saturday, June 28, at the Oelwein American Legion in hopes of raising money to help her.
DeAnn explained her younger sister Kari, age 27, and mother of four, is suffering from arterial pulmonary hypertension, a condition that was diagnosed around Thanksgiving 2006. Kari had become ill after the birth of her fourth child in 2005, complaining of shortness of breath. Over the next year various medical appointments did not reveal anything until her condition worsened with frequent fatigue.
When her illness was finally diagnosed, medicine was prescribed. Unfortunately, the medicine has taken a toll on her heart, which is now only functioning at about 14 percent capacity.
Kari was referred to specialists at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., who say her only hope for survival rests in the success of a double lung and heart transplant. The surgery has a 17 percent survival rate; Kari's prognosis without surgery is about two years.
DeAnn explained that the surgery is extremely rare and several factors must coincide if it is to come about. The donor organs must be complete matches, including the same size lungs as Kari's, and within a 500-mile radius of the hospital. In order to save Kari, someone else will lose a life but the family is trying not to dwell on that very present fact. The family is also required to pay $7,000 to $8,000 "up front" to pay for the expensive anti-rejection medication necessary to keep Kari's body from rejecting its new parts.
DeAnn hopes the benefit will be successful enough to provide the up front funds so there will be one less thing to worry about. Kari has been on a donor waiting list since January and doctors say she is now at the top.
Doctors also say her severe condition is puzzling in that they have no leads on why she has it. Sometimes arterial pulmonary hypertension is hereditary, but none of Kari's nine brothers and sisters, nor her parents (Dean and Dee Hansen of Oelwein) suffers from a similar condition. They will all be present for the benefit Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. at the legion hall.
Kari's husband Chris and four children, Christopher, 10, Madison, 7, Alex, 5 and Hannah, 3, will also be there, along with Kari herself. Although she has lost more than 100 pounds and wears an oxygen mask, she plans to be at the benefit to thank friends for all they are doing for her.
There will be a silent auction with many great sports prizes from professional and college teams, as well as a double loveseat, gas weed-eater and attachments, overnight area vacation packages and other attractive items. Fans of the Packers, Raiders, Twins, Cardinals, Chiefs, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks and more may want to bid on some of the tickets and memorabilia that have been donated.
Supper for a free will donation includes a choice of barbecue pork sandwich meal, hot turkey sandwich meal or hot dog meal. A dance will round out the evening with music provided by JT Entertainment.
DeAnn explained her younger sister Kari, age 27, and mother of four, is suffering from arterial pulmonary hypertension, a condition that was diagnosed around Thanksgiving 2006. Kari had become ill after the birth of her fourth child in 2005, complaining of shortness of breath. Over the next year various medical appointments did not reveal anything until her condition worsened with frequent fatigue.
When her illness was finally diagnosed, medicine was prescribed. Unfortunately, the medicine has taken a toll on her heart, which is now only functioning at about 14 percent capacity.
Kari was referred to specialists at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., who say her only hope for survival rests in the success of a double lung and heart transplant. The surgery has a 17 percent survival rate; Kari's prognosis without surgery is about two years.
DeAnn explained that the surgery is extremely rare and several factors must coincide if it is to come about. The donor organs must be complete matches, including the same size lungs as Kari's, and within a 500-mile radius of the hospital. In order to save Kari, someone else will lose a life but the family is trying not to dwell on that very present fact. The family is also required to pay $7,000 to $8,000 "up front" to pay for the expensive anti-rejection medication necessary to keep Kari's body from rejecting its new parts.
DeAnn hopes the benefit will be successful enough to provide the up front funds so there will be one less thing to worry about. Kari has been on a donor waiting list since January and doctors say she is now at the top.
Doctors also say her severe condition is puzzling in that they have no leads on why she has it. Sometimes arterial pulmonary hypertension is hereditary, but none of Kari's nine brothers and sisters, nor her parents (Dean and Dee Hansen of Oelwein) suffers from a similar condition. They will all be present for the benefit Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. at the legion hall.
Kari's husband Chris and four children, Christopher, 10, Madison, 7, Alex, 5 and Hannah, 3, will also be there, along with Kari herself. Although she has lost more than 100 pounds and wears an oxygen mask, she plans to be at the benefit to thank friends for all they are doing for her.
There will be a silent auction with many great sports prizes from professional and college teams, as well as a double loveseat, gas weed-eater and attachments, overnight area vacation packages and other attractive items. Fans of the Packers, Raiders, Twins, Cardinals, Chiefs, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks and more may want to bid on some of the tickets and memorabilia that have been donated.
Supper for a free will donation includes a choice of barbecue pork sandwich meal, hot turkey sandwich meal or hot dog meal. A dance will round out the evening with music provided by JT Entertainment.
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| Meet Buchanan County's AmeriCorp members | Oelwein invites you to ‘Show Your Patriotism’ during this year’s Fourth of July celebration |
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of communitynewspapergroup.com.
Chas wrote on Jun 28, 2008 11:16 PM:
" I hope Kari is able to get her transplant and that "Second Chance" that so many of us before her have been afforded through the generous donation of the Gift of Life.
I did want to correct your statistics. Your article says: " double lung and heart transplant. The surgery has a 17 percent survival rate" In fact, survival rates are much higher:
Organ Transplanted
1-Year Survival 5-Year Survival
Kidney
Deceased donor 94.8% 80.6%
Living donor 98.0% 90.3%
Pancreas alone 96.7% 88.1%
Pancreas after kidney 96.6% 83.9%
Kidney-pancreas 95.0% 86.1%
Liver
Deceased donor 86.9% 73.6%
Living donor 90.6% 76.1%
Intestine 81.0% 53.6%
Heart 87.8% 74.4%
Lung 84.0% 52.6%
Heart-lung 75.0% 49.7%
Source: 2007 OPTN/SRTR Annual Report, Table 1.13.
Chas
Hrt/Dbl Lung 04/2003 "
I did want to correct your statistics. Your article says: " double lung and heart transplant. The surgery has a 17 percent survival rate" In fact, survival rates are much higher:
Organ Transplanted
1-Year Survival 5-Year Survival
Kidney
Deceased donor 94.8% 80.6%
Living donor 98.0% 90.3%
Pancreas alone 96.7% 88.1%
Pancreas after kidney 96.6% 83.9%
Kidney-pancreas 95.0% 86.1%
Liver
Deceased donor 86.9% 73.6%
Living donor 90.6% 76.1%
Intestine 81.0% 53.6%
Heart 87.8% 74.4%
Lung 84.0% 52.6%
Heart-lung 75.0% 49.7%
Source: 2007 OPTN/SRTR Annual Report, Table 1.13.
Chas
Hrt/Dbl Lung 04/2003 "
Carol wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:01 AM:
" It's "Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension," (PAH) and the version that she has is called "Idiopathic" (IPAH).
For more information, see http://www.PHAssociation.org "
For more information, see http://www.PHAssociation.org "
VIckie Phillips wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:10 AM:
" I hope the benefit was a success. Our thoughts and prayers are with this family.
My niece needs a double lung transplant, she has pph, she is 15 years old. We want to also have a benefit, I was wondering is D'Ann would be willing to get us started in the right direction. If you could pass this info on to her, along with my email, I would appreciate it.
Thank you,
VIckie Phillips
Texas "
My niece needs a double lung transplant, she has pph, she is 15 years old. We want to also have a benefit, I was wondering is D'Ann would be willing to get us started in the right direction. If you could pass this info on to her, along with my email, I would appreciate it.
Thank you,
VIckie Phillips
Texas "
Kara wrote on Jun 27, 2008 11:52 AM: