Back on the TBM Crazy Train

I’ve managed to hop back on the crazy train of TBM. In September 2025, I had my routine yearly bronchoscopy. I was prepared for him to tell me there was some collapse, thinking it would be in my cervical trachea, which is the only area of my respiratory system that’s not collapsing. I wasn’t prepared for what he actually told me. Good news – my cervical trachea is fully in tact! However, my trachea and right bronchus were moderately collapsing and my left bronchus is pretty much completely collapsed.

Dr. Lazzaro, my surgeon, wanted me to come to NJ to for another bronch to see exactly what was going on. Again, I was fairly certain what he was going to say our game plan was.  Yet again, I was wrong. I’ve already had two surgeries on my trachea & right side so I didn’t think there'd be much good cartilage left to do anything with, but he’d be able to work on the left bronchus, get that stabilized & then see what he could do, if anything, on the right. Wrong again! In my pain riddled, drug addled brain after my second tracheaobronchoplasty (TBP), I’d forgotten that he told me the left side had so much scar tissue that he couldn’t even get his tools in there, even a tiny bit, and didn't think there would be anything that could be done on the left side.  Oh. . .

So, what does this mean? Our plan is for Dr. Lazzaro and his team to go in to shore up the right side as much as he can.  He’ll tighten my trachea, remove scar tissue, & replace/add new mesh where needed; all of which was done in my second TBP. He’ll reevaluate the left side while he's in there. If he thinks there's any way possible to get into the left side he’ll start researching and looking into ways of making that happen in a separate surgery after I'm fully recovered from this one. If he thinks he can do anything with that side it would require actually going in from the left side, a way more complicated & risky procedure due to a little organ called the heart. Both of my previous surgeries have been entered through the back on the right, with the first one requiring the removal of a rib. So a pathway, so to speak, already exists when going in through the right. I

If it does end up that he is able to develop a surgical plan to clean up and repair my left brochus, there is no one I'd trust more to take on such a risky procedure. I have so much faith in Dr. Lazzaro and his team that I would allow him to do whatever he needed to do without a care in the world about the risks involved.  I know that if there’s anyone who could figure out a way to get in there and fix me up, it's him; even if he has to develop a procedure himself.  He’s just that kind of doctor.  My surgery is scheduled for 2/19. Please keep me & my medical/care team in your prayers. It's a long & complicated procedure that comes with a long & difficult recovery. As always, thank you for all the love & support. It means the world to all of us.