Just Breathe, Kim Ladd’s Lung Transplant Journey

06/07/2026

This last week has been a rough one. Started of good on Monday by Monday evening the great granddaughter was sick. By Tuesday my son was sick. I was up all night Tuesday night sick at my stomach. Spent Wednesday in the ER. They said it was a stomach bug. I'm still not feeling the best, but better than I was. Granddaughter wound up spending 2 nights in the hospital with this bug. Her blood sugar dropped and she was dehydrated. She's finally home and doing better. My daughter-in-laws mother and granddaughter always was down with the same bug this week. We are so ready for this stuff to go away. Our family sure could use some prayers.

06/01/2026

Sorry I have not updated everyone in a while. Things have been busy. I have been able to keep my great granddaughter a few times a week, that has been so exciting for me. Pre transplant I was not even able to carry her around, much less able to keep up with her. This has been such a blessing. I hit my 7 month lungaversery on June 7th. It's hard for me to believe it's been that long. I have been able to do a few things that I have been looking forward to- 1 concert down. Just got back from a few days in Louisiana to celebrate my 6th month lungaversery. Thanks to my son & daughter in law for allowing my to tag along. I had a great time. We just celebrated the great granddaughters birthday at the zoo. All things I have not been able to enjoy for quite a few years. Thanks to my donor B and his family. I'm so grateful for them.

Still not able to go back to work. We are trying to stay strong and positive as we work through the struggles of this journey. Would not change any decisions I've made about the transplant. Best thing I could have done to better mine and my family's life. Please continue to pray that God will continue to take care of me, will be with my donors family, and will keep us all moving forward.

We see the Dr next week praying all goes well and he doesn't make me stay overnight in the OKC. Motel stays are quite expensive . Lol

04/08/2026

Well today is my 5 month lungaversery. What a journey it's been. Seen the Dr on April 1st, he said all my blood work looks good and my CT was Beautiful. Lungs are clear and all airways are open. He said he would see me in a month. This is 1 more step closer to being able to get back to my new normal life.

While we were at the Dr's appointment we also had a follow up with my social worker. She had called me a few days before to give us a heads up. She had received a letter for me, from my donors family. It has been a emotional roller-coaster 😢 It was a very nice letter and definitely levies it open for us to meet at some point in thr future. We learned a few things about my donor, nick name, some of their likes. There are so many similarities with our family's. I'm not ready to put any of the information out there yet. I feel that's not my place just yet. Please continue to pray for the family.

The photo is with my great granddaughter. I have been fortunate enough to get to spend some extra time with her. She's 22 months old and so smart. Growing up way to fast.

03/29/2026

First big outing post transplant. Nice start to my new life. Looking forward to more fun and adventures to honor my donor and keep there memorie alive. Thanks to one of my best friends for a great night. We had such a good time dinner then Jo Dee Messina concert. Had to follow all the Dr's orders mask, end seat not to close to other people,but it is all worth it.

03/10/2026

As of March 7th I'm 4 months post transplant. Sorry I haven't post an update in a while. To this point all is going well, just a few minor set backs. Contracted a fungal infection and was on IV antibiotics for 4 weeks. Got that all cleared up and then they find a blood clot in my leg. They have added a new med to take care of it.

Still trying to get into what will be my new normal routine and lifestyle change.
Cooking, cleaning, going out in public all come with new challenges. That being said I will take on the challenge for this 2nd chance at life. Looking forward to doing the thing I thought I would never be able to do again. I'm so beyond grateful for my donor & there family. God has blessed me beyond my imagination!

I'm starting to get bored from spending so much time at home. I'm not one to just set around or stay cooped up. But I will do what it takes to stay healthy. My little fur baby's are starting to get really attached to me these days.

Thank you all again for following my journey and for all the prayers! I ask that you continue to pray as I do for my donors family as they learn to live life with out their loved one.

God is Good all the time!!

01/29/2026

Hi everyone! Don't forget we have a campaign with Helphopelive.org. This campaign will help cover medication, hospital, Dr visits, and lab work. With it being the first of the year I will have to meet my deductible & out of pocket. Anything that is donated through this campaign is tax deductible. Thank you for your time and any support you can offer.

Help Hope Live is a nonprofit national organization dedicated to raising money for medical bills and expenses through crowdfunding. Visit us to learn more!

01/06/2026

I have escaped the Hospital once again! We are on our way home.

This was just a miner set back. I developed a fungal infection in my right lung and it was leaking fluid. Dr. had to drain it pulling 800 ml from around the right lung. They are sending me home on IV antibiotics. Dr's said this is not uncommon, thanks to our Oklahoma Air quality. 🙄

Thanks again for all the continued prayers!

01/03/2026

Back in the hospital till Tuesday or Wednesday. We got some good news and some new we where not expecting. The acid reflux surgery site they said looks good.
The news we were not expecting- my esophagus has spasms they think is what is causing the problem.
They also found fluid around the right lung. The doctor did a small procedure and drained almost a liter of fluid from around the lung. I definitely felt the difference as soon as he was done.

Thanks for following my Just Breathe
page!

01/01/2026

Well, I had Dr's appointment with my transplant team today. It didn't go well 😕 Nothing too major, but I'm heading back to the city tomorrow. They are doing another broncoscpy Friday morning and depending on how that goes I may be admitted back in the hospital.
Dr thinks that the surgery I had done for acid reflux is causing some complications. He thinks it's too tight and causing reflux and things are getting in to my right lung. If that's the case they will admit me and have a Gastroenterology Dr go in and stretch it out and that should take care of it. Please keep the prayers coming that this is just a simple set back.
I will update as soon as I know something.

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed Christmas. Our Christmas will be low key, just Jim & I. We are planning to have a family gathering in a fer months. I'm really trying to keep for getting sick. Came down with a cold this week. This is not a big deal for most,but for me it could turn in to a big deal. Sure am going to miss all my family!

Healing is still going good. Still having a little pain but nothing to bad. I still have things I can't do so I'm starting to get bored. So looking forward to getting back to somewhat of a normal life. Miss seeing and talking to everyone!! Phone calls & text are welcome!

Please keep my donors family in your prayers as this is their first holiday with out their loved one! I'm so thankful for their selfless gifts of life for many others like myself. God please be with them now and forever!