USA: In Upstate South Carolina, a married couple is racing to secure a double lung transplant after years tethered to oxygen machines. Reginald “Hun” Jackson and his wife Jacqueline have lived with a life defined by tubing and tanks, home dominated by the constant hiss of oxygen as they fight for breath and survival.
Reginald’s lungs collapsed in 2019, and for six years he has relied on tubes and oxygen to function. Two years later Jacqueline was diagnosed with breast cancer; while undergoing chemotherapy she contracted COVID, which left her dependent on supplemental oxygen as well. Their combined medical struggles have turned everyday tasks into feats of endurance and left both facing the prospect of transplantation to reclaim their lives.
The couple says the only way out is through, and they have mobilized their community to fund an estimated $10,000 needed to pursue a double lung transplant. They have been holding plate sales, fish fries, and bake and rib sales, and have launched a GoFundMe to solicit broader support. Neighbors, friends, and volunteers have rallied for fundraisers and donations to help cover transplant related expenses.
Despite the gravity of their medical needs, Reginald and Jacqueline remain optimistic and grateful for what they have, while urging others not to weather this fight alone. Their story highlights the human cost of respiratory illness and cancer, and the life saving promise of lung transplantation when available. The couple continues to press forward with fundraising and hope that a double lung transplant will restore breath, activity and long term health.
Family members and caregivers are praised for their support, helping with daily care and coordinating events. Medical teams at the hospital provide care and assessments as the couple prepares for transplant evaluation, hopeful that surgical listing and donor availability will align to save lives.
