Morgan Yoney hoping for second lung transplant
Morgan Yoney of Spraggs, a patient at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, is awaiting a second double lung transplant, necessitated by the 21-year-old’s lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis.
Morgan Yoney, center, is flanked by two friends, Calya Rush, left, and Courtney Ann Rush, during a recent visit to Morgan’s room at UMPC Presbyterian Hospital. This photo was posted on a Facebook page titled “Morgan’s Army.”
Morgan Yoney enjoys an intimate moment with her mother Tammy, as the wait continues for a second lung transplant at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.
From the time Morgan Yoney was born, there were signs something might be wrong.
She was eating more than normal and some digestive issues surfaced that prompted a mother’s instinct to take charge.
Tammy Yoney had heard enough about possible milk allergies, and when her youngest daughter was 9 months old, Tammy and her husband, Bob, got the diagnoses they probably wished was allergy-based. What they heard was devastating: Morgan has cystic fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and progressively limits the ability to breathe.
In people with CF, a defective gene causes a thick, buildup of mucus in the lungs and other organs. In the lungs, the mucus clogs the airways and traps bacteria leading to infections, extensive lung damage and eventually, respiratory failure.
“She did quite well until she was 12 years old,” Tammy said. “That’s when she lost a lot of her lung function.”
On Jan. 15, 2010, Morgan had a double lung and liver transplant at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
“For the first three-and-a-half years I did incredibly well and was able to achieve many dreams as a normal teenager, such as celebrating my Sweet 16, getting my license, graduating high school (Waynesburg Central) with my class of 2012, and attending college at Slippery Rock University, where I joined Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority and where I made lifelong friends,” Morgan said on a Facebook page called “Morgan’s Army.”
However, in May 2013, she took a turn for the worse and was diagnosed with humeral rejection of the lungs and steroidal rejection of the liver. Her liver recovered, but her lungs did not.
“Over the next few months it was confirmed that I was in chronic rejection of the lungs,” she said. “This means that my lungs were permanently scarred due to the rejection and would continue to get worse over time.”
For the past 40 days, Morgan has been in UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh dealing with reoccurring infections while breathing with the assistance of a tracheostomy, or trach, tube.
“Recently it was decided that I have declined enough that I will soon be listed for another double-lung transplant at UPMC Presbyterian,” Morgan said.
Tammy said the last few weeks have been very difficult.
“She has experienced renal and respiratory failure, and I believe we will be here for a while hoping for that second transplant,” she said.
The Yoneys, formerly of Mt. Morris who now live in Spraggs, have a second daughter, Megan, 26, who is healthy.
“She is not a carrier of the gene,” Tammy said.
According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, in the United States:
n Approximately 30,000 people are living with cystic fibrosis (70,000 worldwide);
n Approximately 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year;
n More than 75 percent of people with CF are diagnosed by age 2; and
n Nearly half of the CF population is age 18 or older.
Tammy said she cannot thank her friends and the community enough for their support, prayers and fundraising efforts.
While insurance is picking up the bulk of the medical costs, the family has significant expenses, such as transportation, food and lodging.
A close family friend, Patricia Haines, had held two fundraising dinners at the Mt. Morris American Legion, one in October 2014 and one last month.
A third fundraising dinner is planned from 11 a.m. to 2 p. m. March 13 at the Mt. Morris Fire Hall. Spearheaded by Pam Eddy, a member of the fire department auxiliary, the dinner will include spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread sticks, dessert and coffee or iced tea.
Cost is $8 for adults, $6 for children ages 6 to 12, and children under five years old eat free.
Because of tremendous advancements in research and care, many people with CF are living long enough to realize their dreams of attending college, pursuing careers, getting married and having kids.
But while there has been significant progress in treating this disease, there is still no cure and too many lives are cut far too short.