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Transplant patient Jessica Paringer improving; fund set up
Jessica Paringer, the co-owner of Cuvee Wine Bar & Cellar in Bellbrook who received a double-lung transplant Feb. 13, is continuing to improve in the intensive care unit at the Cleveland Clinic, her husband Chris Cavender said late Monday, Feb. 23.
“This has been the best day so far,” Cavender said.
Paringer had to have a surgical procedure late last week to aid in her breathing, but “has been breathing without help” for long stretches, and doctors are pleased with her progress, Cavender said.
Still, Paringer faces three or four more days in the ICU and additional time in a step-down unit in the hospital, then must stay in the Cleveland area for several weeks in case there are complications. “We’re in for a long haul,” Cavender said.
A fund has been set up to help defray the costs of lodging and of other surgery-related costs. Checks should be made out to Jessica Paringer and dropped off at Cuvee, which is located on Alex-Bell Road just east of Wilmington Pike in Bellbrook, or can be mailed to the shop at the following address:
Cuvee Wine Bar
4457 State Route 725
Bellbrook, OH 45305
Paringer, 36, suffers from cystic fibrosis, an inherited, chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the U.S. and which often causes death in the patients’ 20s or 30s.
The disease had taken an increasing toll on Paringer in recent months. She had been approved for a lung transplant, but on Friday, Feb. 6, she suffered a serious setback and nearly died, Cavender said. She was flown by a care-flight medical helicopter from Dayton to the Cleveland Clinic. After she was stabilized, doctors told her that a pair of lungs had become available, and the donor lungs were determined to be a good match. The transplant surgery took place Feb. 13 and lasted nine hours.
Several friends and Cuvee employees are pitching in to help run the wine shop in Cavender’s and Paringer’s absence, and Cindy Hill, the founding owner of Cindy’s Wine Shop that became Cuvee, has returned to work at the wine shop during Paringer’s recovery.
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Comments
By Mr. & Mrs. Howard
February 26, 2009 11:20 PM | Link to this
Hello, Chris. We are very happy for you that you received the lung transplant. God has blessed you the way he has for my husband. He had cirrhosis of the liver. He nearly died before he was informed he would receive both a liver and one kidney. The kidneys were in failure because of his diabetes and the liver condition. June 5, 2008 at the Cleveland Clinic, my husband was given back his life. We owe the donor and family a world of thanks. We know we can repay the donor, but we pray for others who are in need of good donors. My husband is battling lymphoma now, but is nearing the end of his chemo treatments. He is doing pretty well, all in all. It has been a very long year. I became the chauffeur, courier to deliver the meds, correspondent (writing thank you notes), bill payer, and cook Our children are all grown. We have a dozen grandchildren. The youngest boy was born March 4, 2008, and the youngest girl was born Jan.22, 2009. Their grandpa was so blessed to get to be around to see them. God is so good! God bless you and keep you in the palm of His hand. The Howards, Dayton, Ohio
By Gordp
February 24, 2009 9:06 PM | Link to this
Many of us in the Miami Valley are praying for her complete recovery. May God bless the donor!
By Kathy
February 24, 2009 3:14 PM | Link to this
I was lucky enough to receive a kidney in 2004 and am doing well. I will you a long life. There are trade offs with transplants but they are quite worth your new life. Congratulations!!
By Well wisher
February 24, 2009 11:41 AM | Link to this
As someone who grew up knowing two people with CF, I wish her the best of luck in her recovery! Sadly, one of the two I knew has passed, so I know that getting to the lung transplant stage is a big step. I will keep her and her family in my prayers!