Ken Meyer MISSION SPERO

Welcome to  ‘MISSION SPERO: Ken's Quest for Lungs’ Caring Bridge Site.  Ken has been in intense training for close to 3 years for this 'date to be 
determined' mission. He narrowly avoided having everything come to a halt by successfully relocating his family over 2,000 miles across the country at the onset of a pandemic. He is determined! He is smart! And many people have told me he is the strongest person they know! I agree. 


Most of you know his history. He has been battling the auto-immune disease, Scleroderma, since 2000. The disease slowly progressed over the years, tightening up joints here and taking away lung function there. A true frog in the boiling water situation. We often said if we could have jumped a year to the future we'd be shocked.  You can't play music? You can't drive? A wheelchair? A feeding tube? He has fought and adapted along the way all the while 
educating himself on his disease and treatments. He is on top of it all. 


It became obvious this mission Ken's been training for needed to happen soon. He was officially placed on the UPMC list for a double-lung transplant on April 8th. To our shock, he got a call only 10 days later. The transplant happened April 20th. This mission theme is not one I thought up. It is how Ken has been mentally preparing for the transplant, to being away from his 10 year daughter for potentially months. He also focused on the reward this could bring...kicking the soccer ball with her, walking on the Hawaiian sand, going somewhere alone. 


I'm happy to get this site created today, Ken's 46th birthday, to keep all that love him updated. Please forward on because I know most people that meet Ken love him. 



There is a Latin Proverb:
Dum Spiro, Spero 

Which translates to:
While I Breathe, I Hope


Much Love! Janice + Willa