2019 Renaye Fink

Name:                                     Renaye Fink

Type of Donation:             Lung recipient

Age and Location:              Age 59 – Bakersfield, CA

Transplant Date:                 8/15/2011

Sponsor:                               Honored by UCLA Health

RENAYE’S STORY

My name is Renaye Fink and I just celebrated my seventh anniversary with my new amazing lungs.  I have a genetic disease that I inherited from both my Mom and Dad that impacts my lungs and liver and which caused my lungs to completely fail while I was still in my 40’s.  By the time I got on the transplant list, I could not walk across the room without getting out of breath, and I could hardly eat because my swollen and non-functional lungs took up so much space in my body.   I was on oxygen 24 hours per day; I would be faint and my lips would turn blue when I had to load a new oxygen tank.  My beloved Basset Hounds missed our walks and I missed having fun and a quality life.

I am very lucky to have gotten on the list because I am a single woman and live alone except for my Bassets.  The transplant program hesitated because they feared I would not have enough support when I came home to recuperate.  My support was shown when friends and a cousin drove me back and forth from Bakersfield to my wonderful doctors at UCLA, one of my cousins volunteered to stay with me near the hospital after surgery, and another cousin helped me set up in-home care when I left the hospital. We found a supportive nurse to help me in my house for a few weeks, and ALL my neighbors organized and cleaned my house, gave me rides, delivered meals, walked my dogs and did whatever I needed help with for over 6 months.  Every year my new lungs and I throw a big party to remind all of these people that I would not be alive without them.

I love having a real life. I walk my canine companions, go out with or entertain neighbors, friends and family, and trying to show appreciation for the life-saving gift I received.  After my transplant I brought the message of Donate Life and donor cards to people in Bakersfield high schools, Department of Motor Vehicles and hospitals.  I help rescue Bassets and loving homes find each other at Daphneyland.  I honor my late Mother who was a teacher when I volunteer for Bakersfield City School District at Harding Elementary in the guided reading program and I am a reading tutor for Kern Adult Literacy Council.   I test my lungs and stamina playing with children during the summer at Bakersfield Library for the kids’ lunch and activity program   I also work with the Volunteer Center of Kern County, once a month I am block captain for the Bakersfield Art Association’s First Friday Downtown and am a member of Bakersfield Elk’s Association.

Because I was given a new life I want to enjoy it every day, and watch others enjoy life too!