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This episode of Between Breaths takes us into the delicate "in-between" of the transplant journey. The sacred, heavy space between the decision to move and the moment the phone finally rings.
Courtney shares the emotional weight of choosing "one last Christmas" at home, watching her 10-year-old son, Ryder, struggle to find the breath to laugh during a season of joy. As the calendar turns to 2024, the family faces the daunting "60-minute rule," the logistical hurdle of relocating to Houston, and the exhausting reality of finding medical housing while in the midst of a family crisis.
In this episode, we explore:

• The 60-Minute Rule: Debunking the Hollywood myths of "racing lungs" and explaining the real-time preparation required for surgery.
• The Housing Scramble: A raw look at the pros and cons of Ronald McDonald House, Nora’s Home, and the "miracle" of Project Joy & Hope.
• The Math of a Miracle: Breaking down the complex CAS (Composite Allocation Score) and UNOS systems that determine how organs are matched.
• The Seven Offers: The adrenaline and heartbreak of receiving seven calls that didn't lead to surgery, and why waiting for "optimal" lungs is a gift of its own.

Transplant is a miracle born from loss, and a journey measured in liters of oxygen and miles from home. Join Courtney as she pulls back the curtain on what it truly means to be "active" on the list.

Between Breaths is a space for families walking through pediatric lung transplant. The fear, the strength, the grief, and the miracles.

This podcast shares personal experience and is not intended as medical advice.

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