Lana Lamkin

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


At the age of 50, I was in what most would consider peak physical condition. My fitness performance began to decline in January 2020, but I chalked it up to overtraining. 


At the beginning of April, I experienced a Cytokine storm, which included severe swelling in my joints, a rash, and a low-grade fever. By April 20, I was struggling to breathe, and my husband insisted on taking me to a respiratory clinic where the doctor found my oxygen saturation to be 69 percent. I was immediately taken by ambulance to Novant Main in Charlotte, NC. While the doctors and nurses spent the week of April 20 trying to find ways to increase my oxygen saturation, I spent it praying and trying to breathe. 


I was moved to ICU on April 30, where my health declined quickly. At 9:00 that evening, I was put into an induced coma and on life support. John was told to call my daughters and prepare for the worst. At this point, they were allowed to be with me because I was considered to be "end-of-life".  After multiple negative Covid-19 tests, I was finally diagnosed with a very rare autoimmune disease called Dermatomyositis with the marker anti-PL-7, which attacks the muscles and lungs. I needed new lungs and this would happen at Duke University Medical Center. While still in a coma, I was airlifted to Duke on May 12.

I was placed on the lung registry on May 20. Five days later, on May 25, 2020, my new lungs arrived. My double-lung transplant surgery began at 11:00 am and ended by 4:00 pm. I was released from the hospital on July 3 and returned home on August 7. 

My lungs and body were working well together until mid-April 2021 when my body began to reject my lungs. My lung function has continued to decline which forces me to face the need for a second double-lung transplant.  

John and I will be using this website to share updates on our journey.  Your prayers, support, and encouragement is coveted and greatly appreciated. 


Blessings, 
Lana 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9