Emily’s Inspirational Journey: Bridging Hope and Research

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Emily’s Legacy 

Emily’s life was a symphony of courage, resilience, and unwavering determination. Despite battling health challenges, she approached each day with a smile, and the determination to live a full life. She helped sufferers, carers and medical professionals to better understand her illness and how to care for those with it. 

Emily fought valiantly against CLAD, but despite her unwavering spirit, the infection took her from us. Her legacy now fuels our determination to find answers and save lives. 

Please take the time to watch this video - Climbing for my Donor - of Emily and her fellow heart and lung transplant patients, you can find the video here. 

A Smile Through Struggles 

Emily didn’t just face her illness; she embraced it. She raised funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Royal Brompton Hospital, and Harefield Hospital. Her smile was a beacon of hope, illuminating the darkest days. Emily’s journey wasn’t just about survival; it was about living fully, even when the odds seemed insurmountable. 

Understanding CLAD 

  • Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD): This irreversible condition affects lung transplant recipients. Once the rejection process begins, hope dwindles. But understanding CLAD is our first step toward change. 

  • The Science Behind CLAD: Renowned experts like Professor Anna Reed and Professor Darius Armstrong-James delve into the intricate dance between the transplanted lung and the recipient’s immune system. Why does rejection occur? How can we intervene? These questions drive our quest for answers. 

The Urgency of Research 

Organ rejection after a heart or lung transplant is a formidable adversary. It threatens lives, casting shadows over the hope of a second chance. Research becomes our lifeline—a bridge connecting patients to brighter tomorrows. 

Professor Anna Reed, a consultant in respiratory and transplant medicine, based at Harefield Hospital, who is leading on a CLAD research project , says “What we're trying to do is create precision diagnostics, so that for an individual patient we can understand what is the biggest driver of injury to the lung, in order that we can treat the patient most appropriately. We're also trying to predict the patients who are at risk of CLAD.”  

Investing in Hope 

As Emily’s family, we carry her torch. We believe in funding research that can rewrite destinies. Our mission is clear: inspire others with lung and respiratory diseases to embrace life as Emily did. Let’s rally together—donors, caregivers, and medical professionals—to create a symphony of hope. 

 

Rupert Pearce Gould
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