Son of a — the news that a fellow Clarkston High School alum told me about himself was a bit hard to swallow.
‘I never smoked a day in my life, but I need a double lung transplant,? Dave told me at the beginning of March.
‘Cripe!? I thought to myself, ‘That, in one, very short and succinct words, sucks.?
Dave Carpenter, a 1983 Clarkston High graduate, however, didn’t call just to chat about the Clarskton of old, the Clarkston of today, or even his predicament. It was business he wanted to discuss.
‘The Clarkston Eagles are having a fund-raiser for me and they said they had a good response with the last ad they put in your paper. So, how do I put an ad in your paper??
The boss isn’t gonna? like this but, I told Dave he needed to save his money, that we would do a story on him. And then I started to ask questions about his predicament (which he is probably tired of talking about.) To date, Dave has racked up a half-million greenbacks in medical bills, and that bill keeps on growing. ‘I’m not sure what the cost will be, but this sticks with me. With insurance, after the transplant medicine will run between $4,000 and $6,000 a month,? he said.
How or why did Dave’s lungs puke out? Black mold, my friends, black mold. According to Dave, he moved from our fair state 12 years ago. He started his own pesticide business, got married and then stuff started hitting the fan. His lungs have been crapping out now for six years.
‘I was sick for about two years. It got to the point, I couldn’t get to the truck without breathing hard. For two years, the doctors swore it was the pesticides from my business, even though biopsies of my lung showed no residuals. Then my doctor came back from a lecture and told me to have my house tested for mold. Don’t quote me, but there is something like 10 molds toxic to humans. When they checked our house they found the top three in our bedroom. And, you couldn’t even see it. It was inside the walls and it was disgusting.?
(Sorry, ’bout the quote, but — it helps tell the story.)
Dave and his inspiration, his wife Victoria, have moved back up to Michigan. This week they are settling into life in the Ann Arbor area — to be closer to the University of Michigan, where the transplant will happen. The couple have gone through the pre-transplant counselling and Dave is undergoing a few more months of testing. When everything is okay’d he’ll be given a number and put on the waiting list.
Once a pair of lungs becomes available, Dave said, he needs to be at the hospital within four hours — the sooner the better.
‘The lungs deteriorate the fastest,? he said.
Should a pair of lungs become available, and should he get them, the next hurdle will be with rejection. ‘That will be for the rest of my life. The surgeon said people who have had lung transplants have had their bodies reject the lung, five, 11 or even 18 years after the operation.?
I must confess, Dave’s pretty upbeat about the whole thing. I can’t say I would be as chipper. He admits, though, ‘It’s tough. There are roller coasters of emotions. It can change from day to day, or from hour to hour. My wife keeps me going. She’s positive all the time. I have to keep looking down the line, six months or a year — I look forward to then and being able to do the things a 42-year-old can do.?
This past weekend, Dave and the Vickster were able to spend St. Patrick’s Day with their friends and family, ‘for the first time in 12 years — that’s why we moved back to Michigan, for support. Our family and friends are up here.?
Friends and family are also busy coordinating charity events. Besides the Eagle’s June 9 affair, there are talks of bowling and golf tournaments. One friend is working with Waterford Hills Courts for open wally ball, money raised will be donated. The wally ball extravaganza is slated for Saturday, April 14, from 3 to 6 p.m.
‘It’s evolving,? Dave said. ‘There are a lot of people wanting to help and they are coming up with different ideas.?
If any reader would like to pitch in let me know. The Clarkston Eagles will have a spaghetti dinner, live music, raffles and an auction. So, they need stuff folks can bid on — products or services. E-mail me and I will get you in touch with the correct folks. Thanks.
Don’s email address is: Dontrushmedon@charter.net