Marian Frentzel

November 22, 2009

All About My Lungs

St. Louis has been home to me all my life. I went to Beaumont High School, Washington University School of Fine Arts, University of Missouri St. Louis, married, raised my three children, my grandchildren were all born here, worked at Ralston Purina, and above all, received a double lung transplant at Barnes Jewish Hospital on July 6, 2006.

All in St. Louis, Missouri.

I was diagnosed with chronic rheumatoid arthritis 20 years ago in my early 40’s. I became less and less active due to the pain and deformity of my wrist, hands, knees and feet... Many medications (gold injections, methotrexate, Naproxen, Cox-2 Inhibitors were used all the way up to acupuncture, which gave me the most comfort. My husband and I divorced after 24 years of marriage. I was a smoker, and successfully quit in 1999, after many failures.

Dr. John Best, my pulmonologist from St. Luke’s Hospital told me I was suffering by means of the beginning of COPD in 2002. Along with taking rehab at St. Luke’s Hospital and using acupuncture to ease the pain of rheumatoid arthritis everything was generally uncomplicated. But within 1 year I was hospitalized with a respiratory infection. After a virus recurring again and again I was put on oxygen 24/7 in 2004. As time went by, I required more and more oxygen and became weaker and very fragile.

I was evaluated for a double lung transplant in Sept 2005 at Barnes Jewish Hospital and was listed March 1, 2006. I battled panic attacks, depression and fear of the unknown along with being sick. My daughter Karrie was a huge help being my significant caregiver of my family.

Bettye Wallace helped so much by introducing me to Second Wind of St. Louis, taking me with her to Barnes Support Group, and even taking me with her to church.

On Thursday July 6, 2006 I got the call from Barnes to go pick up my new lungs. My surgery started at 9 pm and was in ICU by 2 am Friday morning. I was on a breathing tube and ventilator over night and by 7:30 am I was extubated (with ventilator and breathing tube removed). Before surgery my lung function was 12% and 7 weeks later it was 90%. I have continued to do well after almost 3.5 years. Immune depressive drugs I take for my transplanted lungs, has nearly ended discomfort and further damage from rheumatoid arthritis.

Everyday is a gift because of my donor family and the miracles’ of medical science. Each of these wonderful factors hasn’t much value without each other. I am enjoying and thankful for my remarkable life. I am probably the only 65 year old woman who feels happy about her age. I feel well and want to give back any way I can.

Marian L. Frentzel