Carla Bussell waited six years to take a good breath.
In 2009, shortly after the birth of her fourth son, she started experiencing shortness of breath. She was tired all the time and started passing out. She spoke with her doctor and after many hours and many tests, learned she had pulmonary hypertension.
Nearly a year later, she was diagnosed with lupus. The disease was attacking her lungs.
“I had many hills and valleys with my illness,” Carla said. “One day I felt happy and healthy and the next I couldn’t take care of myself. Thankfully, I have a big family and a wonderful support system.”
Carla took multiple medications and oxygen, which left her feeling very disheartened. Going anywhere and doing anything became a challenge.
Five years after her initial diagnosis, Carla joined the waitlist for a lung transplant. It was then she learned more about the process and heard the words ‘dry run’ for the first time.
A dry run happens when either the organ is unsuitable for transplantation or the recipient isn’t stable enough to proceed. Carla experienced three.
“They explained them to me, and I tried not to get my hopes up,” she said. “I would call everyone and get up there and it wouldn’t happen. I began to feel bitter and hurt, but I never lost faith that God would take care of me.”
She felt like 2020 was going to be her year. Her oldest son Dain even said, “This is the year it’s going to happen.”
She doesn’t know if she manifested it or not, but that August she received the call that changed her life. After 11 years of health struggles, and waiting, she was going to receive a double lung transplant.
“Because of Covid, my husband was the only person who could come with me,” she said. “I was grateful I didn’t have to put my family through all of that again. I wasn’t nervous, I felt at peace.”
The day of Carla’s surgery, Gloria Kirshman would receive a heart transplant at the same hospital thanks to the generosity of one donor, Suzanne Karrer.
Recently, Carla decided to reach out to Suzanne’s family. After the initial letter, a call was scheduled, and Suzanne’s husband Hans Martin and daughter Serena shared the connection that Carla and Gloria had.
On July 19, all three families met at Gloria’s home in Linden, Mich., just outside of Flint to celebrate Suzanne’s life and this special bond they now shared.
“I feel like I’m part of a little family that nobody else can really understand,” Carla said.
More than 2,400 Michigan residents are waiting for their lifesaving organ. The best way to help save a life is by joining the Michigan Organ Donor Registry at golm.org/register.
