At times, its seems strength is a characteristic that we may not know the value we uphold within ourselves until we are pushed to our boundaries. Cleveland native Lysander Reese Jr 36, encounters challenges that do just that each and every day. Lysander was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) at the age of nine months old. Cystic Fibrosis is a life threatening disorder that effects mostly the lungs, but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestine. It’s caused by a defective gene that makes the body produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus. This mucus builds up in the breathing passages of the lungs and pancreas causing life threatening infections. There is no cure for this disease. For treatment, Lysander had to go multiple weeks in the hospital and got administered high doses of several antibiotics to help fight the infections. As part of airway clearance, he also had to take several nebulizer breathing treatments daily to keep his airways open and productive. Getting diagnosed in 1983, his life expectancy was to hopefully see the age of 18. Although medicine has advanced remarkably since then, the average life span of someone with CF is 37 years old.

  Lysander acquired Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) a couple years ago. This is a fungal infection that effected his blood and caused a severe allergic reaction. It caused  inflammation, asthma attacks, irreversible lung damage and left him vulnerable to other infections. For someone with CF, this drastically drops the lung function. In his case, it had dropped his lung function from 50% FEV1 baseline to a 25% FEV1 baseline.  As his team of doctors try to salvage his health, the infection had caused some additional damage to his airways. Hospital stays are came around more frequently. It was an adjustment for someone who was always on the go. Lysander has always been the person for others to go to in need. His problem solving personality and positive outlook on life often has people confiding in him. Participating in countless studies for Cystic Fibrosis’s medical advancements, fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis, volunteering on patient and family advocate councils and support groups, and making contributions to the CF floors in hospitals. Lysander is a natural hearted giver. Currently enrolled in college for music production, he continues to push himself to strive beyond what his limitations are. He credits that strength from his mother, whom he lost at 14 to a courageous battle to Cancer. He’s a stepfather now to three amazing kids that he absolutely loves and a significant other he wants to have a chance to make more memories with. The realization of the physical setbacks with getting older with Cystic Fibrosis were approaching fast and the end stages were prevalent. After consulting with his family and doctors, transplant was the next chapter in his story.

July 4th 2019, Lysander received a double bilateral lung transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. The transplant was a success! Lysander’s recovery was remarkable. He was discharged eight days after the operation. Althought transplant doesn’t cure his Cystic Fibrosis, because CF affects other organs of the body, it gives him a new lease on life. This transplant will be a significant financial setback for his family. The average double lung transplant and follow-up care requires more than $1.4 million, according to an article in the September 2017 issue of Fortune Magazine. Today, thanks to improved health insurance coverage, few patients are required to pay this amount. However, it is not uncommon for a lung transplant patient to have out-of-pocket expenses of more than $25,000 for the transplant and follow-up care during the first months following the transplant, and $10,000 annually for medications and clinic visits following the life-saving transplant. 100% of proceeds raised from fundraising will go to COTA in honor of Lysander to assist with transplanted related expenses. Thank you for taking the time to read his story!