6 years ago, Leah Tyrrell was going through pregnancy with her first child when she got some devastating news.
Doctors in Australia, where Leah lives, diagnosed Leah as having Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia.
Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia is a very rare disorder that has caused Leah’s lungs to scar and fail her.
In the years that followed her diagnosis, Leah and her husband Glenn welcomed their second child, and then as they were ready to have their third child recently, Leah got dangerously close to dying as her condition got worse.
“During her pregnancy with Hendrix, Leah’s lungs failed her around the 20-week mark,” Leah’s friends wrote on a GoFundMe page for her and her husband.
“She describes it as her body finally ran out of oxygen, she turned blue and was rushed to hospital.”
GoFundMe; pictured above is Leah with her son Hendrix
“Since then, she has been in and out of an induced coma, resuscitation, her family were called to say goodbye, ICU, rehab, and now finally home, but not without her biggest battle that is still ahead of her: a double lung transplant.”
“During this time, she delivered baby Hendrix via emergency cesarean, under an induced coma at 26 weeks gestation.”
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“Doctors hoped after birthing Hendrix her health would improve, but it continues to decline. To say she is a warrior and he a little miracle to both be here today is a gross understatement!”
Right now, Leah and Glenn’s son Hendrix is a 5-month-old little boy, and in the months since Leah gave birth to him, she is still struggling with her own health.
Leah is in a wheelchair and requires round-the-clock oxygen since her body is rejecting both of her lungs.
“In basic terms, she cannot get enough oxygen into her bloodstream and is in desperate need of a double lung transplant,” her friends continued.
“We hope and pray she will be eligible for the operation and once she has clearance to proceed, we hope compatible lungs will become available as quickly as possible; her prognosis is terminal without the transplant.”
GoFundMe; pictured above is another photo of Leah with her son Hendrix
“If she is lucky enough to be a suitable candidate for the transplant and receive a set of lungs, she will then confront a long, hard road of recovery.”
Aside from all of this, Leah’s husband Glenn will not be able to work for approximately a year as he takes care of Hendrix and Leah full-time, in addition to their 2 older daughters.
Leah’s friends hope that they can help raise enough money to pay for all of Leah’s medical bills while easing the financial burden on Glenn of being the only person to take care of their entire family.
If you would like to donate to the GoFundMe created for Leah and Glenn, you can do that here.