Hello my name is Katy Savage I'm 23 years old and am suspended off the transplant list I have Obliterative Bronchiolitis (OB) its very rare I was told I am one in a million lungs. I caught OB from an adenovirus when I was 18 months old. I was in and out of hospital when I was a baby and up to the age of seven was wrongly treated for asthma. When I was seven an amazingly lovely Dr took over my care and diagnosed me with OB because he listened to my mum and dad and did the proper tests. When I have done lung function tests I have only had lung function of 30 percent.
Now it is below 23 percent or it was last time I did them, I can't do my blows anymore because I caught Swine Flu in november 2009 and am now on a ventilator and oxygen 24 hours a day to support my fragile lungs. I am getting ahead of myself.. This all started i in 2006 when I started to struggle to walk to school and my lungs started to hurt alot.. I didn't tell mum and dad or my Dr because I was scared and didn't know what was going on..
Then in Jan 2006 I ended up in hospital with IV's for coughing up blood, I still went to school even with my canular in I came back to the hospital for my IV's and went home lol.. Thats how determined I am and thats why I am still here because I fight and my parents and little sister Holly fights for me.
Then in the easter of 2006 I was admitted to intensive care for 2 weeks on a non-invasive ventilator, I had caught a bad bug and it just caused me to go downhill.. I had to be taught how to breath again.. The Drs and nurses were lovely of what I can remember mum says I was out of it for most of the time. Away with the fairies as she likes to say... I was 16 at this point..
When I was 17 they wanted to see how I went on I was in hospital a couple of times in the winter, and I was referred to the Royal Brompton where a kind dr told me there was no other option than a transplant it was always going this way.. He had a good look at my x-rays, CT Scans and listened to my chest.. This came as a complete shock because, with some other conditions they know they are always heading the down the transplant route well we never did. I was put on the Harefield transplant list on the 30th of April 2007 it took 8 months to get to see them.
When I went in for my transplant assessment they did various tests such as x-ray, kidney tests, CT Scan and listening to your chest I was in for 4 days. When I was put on the list I was told I was a perfect candidate, but sadly over the past 3 and a half years I have deteriorated quite badly I caught pseudomonas aeruginosa while I am waiting, and ended up in hospital for it a couple of times.
I also caught swine flu in the november 2009 and was in intensive care and MIU ward 11 for two weeks.. They said to me if I had not of been looked after so well then I wouldn't be here.. Which is very scary. I was put on the emergency list because my lungs are that bad very scary times.. but that call never came and now im just living each day as it comes..
im very much into my tattoos and piercings i have 14mm stretched lobes, a tragus, a snug, a vertical industrial, 2 pinnas,a helix punch, a conch punch, a nape, a wrist surface, both nipples and a vertical labret plus a half sleeve tattoo, 2 inner forearm tattoos and a lower leg tattoo
I need a wheelchair to get around outside.. I need a full time career (my dad) I need painkillers (morphine) I need 50 tablets a day..
I can walk up and down the hall.. I can still communicate with friends, I can do my arm exercises to make my muscles stronger and I can help with organisations to raise awareness for OB and Organ Donation.. Since trying to raise awareness I have had some lovely messages of support from kind friends this has given me a purpose because to me raising awareness, then I could save someones life... I also sponsor the guide dogs, save the children and a german shep Jason So thats me..
Now it is below 23 percent or it was last time I did them, I can't do my blows anymore because I caught Swine Flu in november 2009 and am now on a ventilator and oxygen 24 hours a day to support my fragile lungs. I am getting ahead of myself.. This all started i in 2006 when I started to struggle to walk to school and my lungs started to hurt alot.. I didn't tell mum and dad or my Dr because I was scared and didn't know what was going on..
Then in Jan 2006 I ended up in hospital with IV's for coughing up blood, I still went to school even with my canular in I came back to the hospital for my IV's and went home lol.. Thats how determined I am and thats why I am still here because I fight and my parents and little sister Holly fights for me.
Then in the easter of 2006 I was admitted to intensive care for 2 weeks on a non-invasive ventilator, I had caught a bad bug and it just caused me to go downhill.. I had to be taught how to breath again.. The Drs and nurses were lovely of what I can remember mum says I was out of it for most of the time. Away with the fairies as she likes to say... I was 16 at this point..
When I was 17 they wanted to see how I went on I was in hospital a couple of times in the winter, and I was referred to the Royal Brompton where a kind dr told me there was no other option than a transplant it was always going this way.. He had a good look at my x-rays, CT Scans and listened to my chest.. This came as a complete shock because, with some other conditions they know they are always heading the down the transplant route well we never did. I was put on the Harefield transplant list on the 30th of April 2007 it took 8 months to get to see them.
When I went in for my transplant assessment they did various tests such as x-ray, kidney tests, CT Scan and listening to your chest I was in for 4 days. When I was put on the list I was told I was a perfect candidate, but sadly over the past 3 and a half years I have deteriorated quite badly I caught pseudomonas aeruginosa while I am waiting, and ended up in hospital for it a couple of times.
I also caught swine flu in the november 2009 and was in intensive care and MIU ward 11 for two weeks.. They said to me if I had not of been looked after so well then I wouldn't be here.. Which is very scary. I was put on the emergency list because my lungs are that bad very scary times.. but that call never came and now im just living each day as it comes..
im very much into my tattoos and piercings i have 14mm stretched lobes, a tragus, a snug, a vertical industrial, 2 pinnas,a helix punch, a conch punch, a nape, a wrist surface, both nipples and a vertical labret plus a half sleeve tattoo, 2 inner forearm tattoos and a lower leg tattoo
I need a wheelchair to get around outside.. I need a full time career (my dad) I need painkillers (morphine) I need 50 tablets a day..
I can walk up and down the hall.. I can still communicate with friends, I can do my arm exercises to make my muscles stronger and I can help with organisations to raise awareness for OB and Organ Donation.. Since trying to raise awareness I have had some lovely messages of support from kind friends this has given me a purpose because to me raising awareness, then I could save someones life... I also sponsor the guide dogs, save the children and a german shep Jason So thats me..
