Tiffany Senter is just 25, but she has already had three sets of lungs.
She was born with cystic fibrosis, a chronic genetic disease that causes sticky fluid to build up in several organs, including the pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestine.
But it is most devastating to the lungs, which the disease effectively drowns in this malfunctioning mucus.
By age 16, Tiffany was dying.
A lung transplant at 17 saved her life, but four years later her body rejected the new organs.
Tiffany got yet another shot at life, receiving a second pair of donor lungs at 23.
For now, Tiffany is breathing easier at last, but she still has to spend much of her time at the hospital, as cystic fibrosis has ravaged her other organs, too, and leaves her vulnerable to infections that could prove deadly.
But Tiffany keeps her spirits up, with a little help from her idol, Marilyn Monroe, fixing her hair and make up to match the late starlet's exactly - all from her hospital bed.
Even more than her Marilyn, Tiffany looks up to the two organ donors whose lungs have kept her alive this long, and simply hold onto hope that these lungs will keep working as doctors say they won't be able to give her another pair.
Tiffany Senter (pictured) cystic fibrosis and has had two lung transplants (left) at just 25. Her third set of lungs is failing, but she hopes that medications will stabilize her enough to start doing make up professionally, including her signature Marilyn Monroe look (right)
Tiffany's grasp on life has always been a little tenuous.
When she was born, it was immediately clear Tiffany had severe cystic fibrosis. Doctors initially advised her parents to take their newborn home and enjoy the short time they would likely have with her, Tiffany told The Sun.
But they didn't give up on their daughter, and Tiffany didn't give up either.
Until age 14, Tiffany even went to school. But as her condition had continued to worsen and her lungs got weaker, it was too dangerous for her to be around other children whose common colds could be life threatening for Tiffany.
By age 16, things were dire.
Tiffany was transferred to Stanford University's hospital, where doctors told her that a lung transplant was her best option - her only option - for survival.
After nine months of feeling like she was trying to breath under water, a new pair of lungs became available for Tiffany. Her own lungs were functioning at just 20 percent of the capacity of healthy lungs.
Doctors removed Tiffany's lungs - which were nearly black and contorted with disease - and replaced them with the donor's, which had come from a young man, on the cusp of adulthood, who had died in a tragic accident.
Cystic fibrosis causes mucus to become thick and effectively drown and kill lungs like Tiffany's
For the last three months before her second transplant, Tiffany was confined to a hospital bed, hooked up to a machine breathing for her and a feeding tube
But he and his family had donated as many of his organs as possible, saving the lives of eight people - including Tiffany.
Soon after the operation, Tiffany's lungs were operating at 93 percent - almost as good as new. She was overjoyed.
And for four years, she got to live the life of adventure she'd dreamed of.
But then the unthinkable happened: Tiffany's body rejected the very organs that were keeping her alive.
It was back to Stanford, back to the transplant list and back to struggling to breath. Tiffany had to wait another nine months, and for the last three she was completely confined to a hospital bed with a machine breathing for her and a feeding tube, 24 hours a day, every day.
While there, she stumbled across a makeup tutorial on YouTube.
'I felt like I looked like I was going to die, and those videos inspired me to see you can transform how you look on the outside,' Tiffany told Daily Mail Online.
'My motto is: "If you look good, you feel good."'
Tiffany started order make up kits to the hospital, creating new looks and practically transforming into Marilyn Monroe, all from her bed.
Mean while, she only had nine percent lung function.
Tiffany has to take 70 medications every morning to keep her lungs, kidney and liver working
After four years, her body rejected the first pair of donor lungs. While waiting for another transplant, Tiffany taught her self to do makeup, and hopes to make it a career
'The pathologist said he didn't know how I was hanging in there. My right lung had completely died, and there was just one spot on the left lung that was giving me air,' Tiffany said.
'It's hard to see, many of us, you can't tell that we're chronically ill. Then when you get to see your lungs it puts in perspective what we actually go through - even for me.'
Again, the failing lungs were removed and replaced with a new set, in 2017.
'But when I had the first transplant, the other organs took a hit,' Tiffany said.
'Thankfully I was able to have a healthy enough kidney and liver to do it again, but my kidneys have taken a hit.'
For awhile, the new lungs worked perfectly. But after a year-and-a-half, they were in the first stages of failure and rejection.
Tiffany was diagnosed with chronic organ rejection, meaning that even the harsh medications she took to suppress her immune system couldn't stop her body from thinking her new lungs are a foreign object and attacking them.
Her body is too traumatized and too weak for Tiffany to have any shot at a third transplant.
Even if she had one, 'my sternum is already wired shut and clipped. There's really no room for them to operate and my chances of survival would be so low,' Tiffany said.
Her kidneys have failed three times in the last year and her lungs are functioning at 60 percent - but that's enough so long as the the medications she's on now - some of the 70 pills Tiffany starts her day with - continue to keep her stable.
'It's bittersweet. No one is ready to face the possibility of death at 25, so I hope the medications can keep me stable for a long time' Tiffany said.
She is transforming her Marilyn-themed bedroom into a makeup studio so she can see clients there and pursue her dream of being a cosmetologist - even as her lungs fail her
To that end, she's in the process of transforming her bedroom into a makeup studio and plans to get her cosmetology and business licenses so she can have clients come to her to have their makeup done.
And she continues to lift weights, rock climb with her brother, and go on hikes with her whole family.
'I have gotten seven-plus years because of my donors, and I couldn’t ask for more than that,' Tiffany says.
'I feel very lucky to have had the time I have.'
She has sent letters to both of the families of her lung donors, but has never heard back from either.
Tiffany's message to the families is simple: 'I can't imagine what it would be like for them, and I just want them to know how much I appreciate their gift and i'm doing my best to do them justice.'
The causes of both cystic fibrosis and organ donation are near and dear to Tiffany's heart, and she has even started a fundraising campaign for the Children's Organ Transplant Association.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2019/02/16/aspiring-makeup-artist-25-suffering-from-cystic-fibrosis-is-on-her-third-and-final-set-of-lungs/
Main photo article Tiffany Senter is just 25, but she has already had three sets of lungs.
She was born with cystic fibrosis, a chronic genetic disease that causes sticky fluid to build up in several organs, including the pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestine.
But it is most devastating to the lungs, which the d...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/02/15/22/9880004-6710267-image-m-13_1550268055455.jpg
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