Joyce Jensen

Joyce Jensen

Transplant Type:   Double Lung

What if you were living on borrowed time? 

I am 37 years old facing my own mortality. My lungs are failing.

Who am I? I am a mother, wife, daughter, sister and a friend fighting for her life. I need a double-lung transplant. I am blessed with a loving husband, Greg, and our dear son, Eric, who starts kindergarten this fall. But without a double-lung transplant, I will most likely not live to see Eric finish grade school. 

My disease is called autoimmune constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans. The Latin name doesn’t matter. What does matter is that my own body is destroying my lungs. My diagnosis has significantly affected my life and the lives of those around me. I long to take a walk without struggling for my breath, or to chase Eric around without having to stop and gasp for air. I want my active lifestyle back.

But I don’t have to die. The ability to perform a double-lung transplant is one of God’s medical miracles. It is my only hope. I am familiar with the world of medicine. I was 2 when diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Being immersed in medical care so young, I knew I wanted to help others like me. That is why I now work as a nurse practitioner. 

Unfortunately, my hope for a new life comes at a very high price.

The average double-lung transplant costs nearly $800,000, and I am lucky to have health insurance that will cover the cost of the transplant itself. But that’s only the start of medical expenses I will accumulate. I will need a lifetime of follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. These medications are very costly, and as important to my survival as the transplant itself. After any transplant, your body naturally wants to attack the foreign organ. That means I will need lifetime medication to help keep my immune system suppressed. 

I have the will and discipline to follow every order the doctors give me. I am praying to have this operation at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, MI where we live. If not, I will temporarily relocate to Madison, WI and stay there for approximately five weeks recovering.

My mission from now on is to spread the word about how vital organ donations are. One person’s gift of life can save up to eight lives. Please consider being an organ donor.

You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to the National Foundation for Transplants in honor of Joyce.  

If you'd prefer to send your gift by mail, please send it to the National Foundation for Transplants, 3249 W. Sarazen’s Circle, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38125.  Please be sure to write "in honor of Joyce Jensen” in the memo line.

Thank you for your generosity!

Transplant Center:   Spectrum Health (Transplant Center)

If you have any questions about The National Foundation for Transplants, feel free to contact the staff at 800-489-3863.