STATEMENT FROM PHOTOGRAPHER MADDIE MCGARVEY:

"I started this project not really knowing what to expect. Honestly, I didn’t know much about organ donation, and at first I struggled with this project. Karen lived almost two hours away from me and I was shooting throughout the winter when the roads were treacherous and all I wanted to do was hide in bed. But I knew this was an important project that could actually make a difference in somebody’s life so I pushed myself to do a good job. I met Karen a few weeks before she got the call that changed her life. She was frail, couldn’t get around very well, and yet so full of hope. I took a few pictures of her and her son and told her I would be back as soon as I was on winter break from school. A couple of weeks later I got an email saying that Karen had her double lung transplant and was doing well. I was thrilled for her, and hoped that she would still let me follow her around and document her life with her new lungs. I can honestly say that Karen and her family have changed my life for the better. I witnessed Karen transform from someone barely able to breathe on her own to being able to run up the stairs. I am so thankful that Karen let me into her life. I have definitely learned not to take life for granted. I didn’t care about organ donation until I met Karen. As she invited me into her life, I met a woman no different than my own mother. Today I am an organ donor."

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My Name is Karen Range | Produced by Maddie McGarvey

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"The story goes that I was told that one of the security guys thought I was cute -- whatever?!?! So...I went on a mission to check out all the security guys. I was so afraid it was the one that I didn't find attractive. Weeks went by and I was always on my best behavior when I saw security. Slowly Jerry (the one I DID think was cute) started flirting with me. We flirted back and forth for a week or so. Then one night I was working the late shift of a Midnight Sale. One of my associates was having a problem balancing her drawer -- at which time security gets involved. I of course had to stick around to see the problem through. Jerry was the first one to my floor (how convenient). We flirted the whole time that he was helping my associate balance her drawer. Then as we were all leaving -- it was late -- after 1 am. He asked me to get coffee with him at Denny's. We talked all night long -- neither one of us ever drinking our coffee. From then on we have talked everyday. We were married about 2 years later. The funniest thing was is that Jerry was only 22 and still in college. I was 27 and had no idea that he was that young. It didn't matter because after our night long "date." I was in love. Talk about love at first site -- geez!! I remember telling my sister the next day that I was going to marry him. The rest is history. He has been my Knight in Shining Armor ever since.

My name is Karen Range. Prior to February 2006 I was a fairly healthy stay at home mom of a 2 year old. In mid February I started coughing and becoming short of breath. I immediately went to the doctor and was told I had pneumonia. I was given antibiotics and steroids. I continued to worsen. I was then told I had bronchitis and given more antibiotics and steroids. This went on until I coughed so hard I cracked two ribs and was in unbearable pain. My next trip was to a Pulmonologist. He took all kinds of X-rays and CAT scans and told me that my sinuses were blocked causing the constant infection. I was put on long term antibiotics and told I would be better in 6 weeks. By now it is April and I had been coughing since February. I didn’t get any better in the next 6 weeks, so I was hospitalized for testing. A week later – the Friday before Memorial Day weekend – I was diagnosed with BOOP (Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia). I was told that with high doses of steroids this would resolve in 6 months to a year. After 6 months, I was still not getting any better. In fact, my lung function had declined slightly. I was then sent to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for a second opinion. At Mayo I was told that I had Constrictive Bronchiolitis Obliterans and not BOOP. I was also told that there was very little that could be done to help me. There was no medication that would open up the badly scarred small airways. My only hope was a transplant.

Jerry and I were in shock. We had gone to the Mayo Clinic for hope not devastation. I was not yet 40 years old and in need of an organ transplant. We decided not to believe them and came home determined to find another solution. In January of 2007 I started seeing an alternative medicine doctor that thought he could help me. After months of treatments, my lung function was still declining and I was failing physically and emotionally. I finally gave up and made an appointment to see my Pulmonologist to talk to him about transplant. He was very supportive of our decision and made the referral for us at the Cleveland Clinic.

I was listed for a double lung transplant at the Cleveland Clinic on Feb. 7th, 2008. That is when the wait began. Even though I had a pretty high LAS score, I was told that my wait might be longer due to my small size. I waited 22 months and on Dec. 1, 2009 I was blessed with a beautiful pair of new lungs. I was in the hospital for 10 days and then was released to a nearby hotel in Cleveland area. Thanks to lots of prayer and God's incredible grace I was released home on Dec. 23rd just in time for Christmas with my family and in my own home. I am truly thankful for God's wonderful miracle and the generosity and love of my donor and donor family.

My life has changed dramatically over the last year. Just prior to my transplant I was pretty much home bound. I was on oxygen 24/7 and I could only take care of my immediate needs. My 5 1/2 year old son went to Kindergarten and then to an afterschool daycare because I couldn't care for him. My husband not only worked 40+ hours a week at his job, but he took care of me, our son, the cooking, the laundry, the house, the grocery shopping, and so much more. I did things that didn't require activity and I sleep 3 hours each day. I was tired, sick, and very socially withdrawn.

I am now 3 months post transplant. My recovery is going very well. I can do more things than I ever imagined. I can drive, grocery shop, go shopping with friends, take care of my son, do laundry, clean my house, cook meals, and so much more. I am truly amazed at how wonderful it is to breathe. My pain lessens each day and I am able to do more each day. At my first appointment after transplant my lung function has increased by more than 50%. I have been told that my lung function can continue to increase up to a year or more, so I am excited for all the possibilities. I have been without oxygen since the Friday after my transplant (transplant Tuesday, Dec. 1st). It is so awesome not to drag tanks or a cord behind me everywhere I go. I was able to walk on my own throughout the entire Cleveland Clinic. I have never done that since I was listed for transplant. I have been shopping - walked throughout Walmart and Target. I used to have to use a motorized cart.  I can take a shower in less time and without oxygen. I can wash my face without gasping for air. I can turn over in bed without being short of breath. The list goes on and on. It is the most incredible feeling. To top it all off we have been told that we will be home in our home for Christmas. We will be celebrating this incredible miracle with our 5 yr. son. What a Christmas miracle it will be."

-- Karen Range

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