Photo: North River's Ruth Kaiser has been battling lung disease since 2003. She is in Toronto awaiting a double lung transplant and requires oxygen all the time as part of her therapy and treatment. Submitted photo
TRURO - Ruth Kaiser knows that every day is a gift.
The 65-year-old from North River is currently in Toronto awaiting a double lung transplant. And although she's been there since the beginning of December and waiting can be daunting, she's trying to be optimistic.
"I have pulmonary fibrosis. The only hope is for a lung transplant; if not, death is imminent," said Kaiser from Toronto. "You wouldn't be human if you didn't feel disappointment ... but I live one day at a time and hope today is the day we get the call."
Kaiser was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis - a chronic, progressive form of lung disease with no known cure or cause - in September 2003.
She was put on a transplant list on Dec. 1, 2011, which required her going to Toronto until she is approved for it.
"There's no timeline ... 64 people are on a waiting list and it's not a chronological list," Kaiser said. "It goes by criteria including compatibility (blood type), size and need (and) there's always a chance of rejection after the transplant."
Kaiser requires a monthly reassessment and is patiently waiting for good news about the transplant.
"One lady has been here for two years waiting and another was only here for two weeks. I'll be here until I get one," she said.
Read more: http://www.trurodaily.com/News/Local/2012-06-14/article-3008942/North-River-woman-awaits-double-lung-transplant/1
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