Jim ’s Story

Site created on July 26, 2023

As many of you already know, Jim is being evaluated for a lung transplant by the Mayo Clinic. His story started in November 2022 when he went to the ER on Thanksgiving weekend. He was very short of breath and had spent two full days asleep - he knew something wasn't right. Little did he know that ER visit would turn into a 6 month hospital stay. He returned home shortly after Easter.

Jim was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease. This means that the little air pockets in his lungs are hardening, and his lungs don't expand/deflate as they should. This makes it hard to breathe. Jim was placed on oxygen during his hospital stay - at one point the doctors were considering a ventilator due to the lack of oxygen in his body. Thankfully, we didn't need to go that route. Jim has also been using a wheelchair since the hospital stay, as a *simple* activity, like walking, has become difficult without the lung capacity. I think I speak for both him and I when I say we don't love it, but we are learning how to navigate his new normal.

Flash forward to the middle of July. Jim has started testing to determine if he can be considered for a transplant. July 17 was his first test day, and he has appointments scattered from now until the end of September. We won't know if he will make the transplant list until that very last day of testing. We are asking for hopes and prayers that Jim will make the list.

That's just a short little backstory of the mess that we have been through since Thanksgiving - not to mention the broken leg, the broken toe, the body tremors or the heart surgeries. Trust me when I tell you that Jim keeps me on my toes. Sometimes I wonder if he's doing some of this on purpose just to see me 😉 All jokes aside, I will do my best to keep this page updated so everyone can be a part of his journey. Thank you for checking in and I'm sure you'll hear from me again soon.
-Jessica (Jim's daughter)

Newest Update

Funeral and Visitation

Journal entry by Jessica Stauber —

Here is the information for the funeral and visitation. The link is also on Facebook. 

The visitation will take place on Thursday at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral home in Glenwood starting at 5pm. The funeral will be at 11am at the Lutheran Church in Glenwood with a visitation 1 hour prior. 

https://www.hoplinfuneralhome.com/obituary/JamesJim-Stauber?fbclid=IwAR3ZWwlGNHAf5kT1Wb1WnJ4k4fBfkSF_UYC47a1H_XWRgucahBi9R2QWK4I#tributewall 
Read More of the journal titled "Funeral and Visitation "
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