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Wine shop owner receives double lung transplant
Jessica Paringer, the co-owner of Cuvee Wine Bar & Cellar in Bellbrook, received a double-lung transplant Friday, Feb. 13, and is recovering at the Cleveland Clinic.
The surgery went well, although Paringer will remain in the Intensive Care Unit for a few more days, and will be hospitalized for two weeks after leaving the ICU, her husband, Chris Cavender, said Monday, Feb. 16.
Paringer, 36, suffers from cystic fibrosis, an inherited, chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the U.S. and which often causes death in the patients’ 20s or 30s.
The disease had taken an increasing toll on Paringer in recent months. She had been approved for a lung transplant, but on Friday, Feb. 6, she suffered a serious setback and nearly died, Cavender said. She was flown by a care-flight medical helicopter from Dayton to the Cleveland Clinic. After she was stabilized, doctors told her that a pair of lungs had become available, and the donor lungs were determined to be a good match.
The surgery began at 4 a.m. Feb. 13 and lasted nine hours, Cavender said. Doctors are pleased with Paringer’s recovery so far, although she endured a “bump in the road” on Tuesday and had to have the ventilator tube re-inserted as doctors attempt to fine-tune her medications, he said.
Drugs used to prevent rejection of transplanted lungs can leave patients susceptible to infections and can have other serious side-effects, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
A lung transplant is a relatively uncommon treatment for the disease. In 2006 and 2007, fewer than 200 double-lung transplants were performed on CF patients each year nationwide, according to Barbara Rothstein, associate executive director of the Dayton office of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Greater Cincinnati Chapter. Nationwide, many more patients are approved for the procedure than there are available donor organs, the foundation’s web site says.
Several friends and Cuvee employees are pitching in to help run the wine shop in Cavender’s and Paringer’s absence, and Cindy Hill, the founding owner of Cindy’s Wine Shop that became Cuvee, has returned to oversee the wine shop’s operation during Paringer’s recovery.
Even after her release from the hospital, Paringer won’t be coming back to Dayton right away. She must stay within a hour-or-less drive from the Cleveland Clinic for a few weeks in case there are complications, Cavender said.
Sometime later this week, a bank account is expected to be set up locally in Paringer’s name to help defray costs associated with the surgery, particularly the lodging while she must remain close to the Cleveland hospital.
We’ll bring you more information about that when it’s available.
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Comments
By Melissa Hill Meredith
February 28, 2009 10:55 AM | Link to this
What timing that I just happened to be looking for you today Jessica! Our prayers are with you Jessica! Come visit your old high school buds on facebook when you are feeling better. We’d love to hear from you. I’ve posted this article so everyone can send you well wishes and prayers
By Wendy
February 19, 2009 10:56 PM | Link to this
This is glorious news — thank you for sharing, Mark! I’m sure the journey to wellness will be arduous for both Jessica and Chris, but they’ll have the support and prayers (and shared joy!) of their friends here in Dayton. We can’t wait to see them back at Cuvee! And tbill, your post would lead one to believe that wine for you is simply a taste in a glass. I sincerely hope you know — or will discover — that it’s about so much more, including sharing and community. And to answer your question, insofar as the Dayton wine community is a family, YES: if it were your dad or mom or brother, and if they were part of this community, I’m sure Mark would report it because he (and the rest of this family) does care. Please, find it in your heart to be happy for Jessica.
By Nancy
February 19, 2009 12:01 PM | Link to this
God bless you Jessica! You definitely have an angel on your shoulder! We eagerly await your return.
By Ann Boucher
February 18, 2009 8:59 PM | Link to this
This great news! Also, how wonderful of Cindy to come out of retirement. Please, keep us informed.
By Gene
February 18, 2009 2:25 PM | Link to this
Everyone who knows Jessica is so happy and thankful she recieved this gift. An angel was chosen to help her move forward and they followed through. For those of you who’ve never seen Jessica smile or heard her laugh you might question the significance of the article. For the lucky ones who have, we know how special this is. Tbill, come on in to Cuvee sometime and experience why she is loved so much and maybe your life will be brightened. My first message was deleted due to its hearfelt yet mixed instructions to you. However, I’ll be the first one to buy you one of Jessica’s suggested wines if you ever come in. Jess, every time I think of how close you came to the edge I want to weep. Now I can go on with knowing there was nothing I could do for your lungs but I can and will always remain your friend.
By Tisha & Steve
February 18, 2009 7:01 AM | Link to this
Cheers to Jessica! We wish the best for your recovery and look forward to seeing you and Chris back in the shop very soon. Now we have a reason to break out the bubbly and celebrate!
By Sue
February 17, 2009 6:10 PM | Link to this
Thanks to Mark for doing this story. I’m so glad Jessica got the transplant so soon after being placed on the list. My thoughts and prayers are with Jessica and Chris during this difficult time. Wishing Jessica a speedy recovery! I look forward to seeing her smiling face at Cuvee once again.
By Tom & Judy
February 17, 2009 5:37 PM | Link to this
Our prayers are with you, Jessica & Chris. We will toast to a speedy recovery. Thanks, Mark, for the story.
By Cathy
February 17, 2009 4:09 PM | Link to this
My thoughts and prayers are with Jessica and Chris. How awesome that the lungs became available just in time, and it is wonderful that Jessica’s surgery went well. All my best for a strong recovery!! Mark, thank you for keeping us updated. BTW, tbill, this is a Blog about wine-and all things related to wine. As such, Mark often writes about the wine community here. If you see it as insignificant, go elsewhere.
By Janet
February 17, 2009 3:37 PM | Link to this
TBill, I actually feel sorry for you. There is something inherently wrong with a person who cannot read the story about Jessica and feel genuine happiness for her (and Chris) and perhaps pause for moment to think about what it must be like to be suffering from a terminal disease, inches from death’s door and, almost miraculously, get a new lease on life from someone they have never met. Someone who felt so strongly about life, living, and the beauty of the human spirit that they gave what they could to ensure another life would continue after their own. I doubt such a person would read this story and think “Geez, I wonder why Mark is wasting valuable column space on this story when he could be telling us about another restaurant closing or health department citation.” We’ll leave that in your capable hands, Tbill, since you seem to have the idiocy market cornered. Mark, thank you for writing about Jessica’s journey. Those of us who know and love Jessica are continuing to pray for her and look forward to the time that she is once again behind the counter at Cuvee using her acerbic wit to amuse and entertain!
By Denise
February 17, 2009 1:30 PM | Link to this
tbill, In all the time you’ve been reading this blog, you have failed to grasp the fact that the wine community in Dayton are a caring, friendly lot. I’d even call us a kind of family, though many of us don’t know each other. While we want to know about the wines and wine tastings, restaurant openings and closings, we care about the people behind the scenes, too, and we want to know when serious things happen to them. We WANT to be be given the opportunity to offer them our prayers, physical support, and even financial help. So get off Mark’s case and click somewhere else.
By DD
February 17, 2009 1:23 PM | Link to this
Obviously tbill is not a part of the Dayton wine family…sometimes saying nothing is better than saying something at all. Thanks Mark for making us aware. It is a great shop! Let us know a little about the upcoming Cinci Wine Festival, too!!
By Barry
February 17, 2009 1:13 PM | Link to this
actually this is health news. years ago cystic fibrosis was a disease that killed kids before they left their teens, and that was all there was to say about it. the fact this lady survived to 36 before needing a lung transplant is cool
By xu96
February 17, 2009 12:58 PM | Link to this
Tbill, you are totally without class. It’s known as a human interest story…Those of us who know Jess and Chris think its very “significant” that her story gets out. Too bad you’re too self absorbed to understand it.
By hakko
February 17, 2009 12:39 PM | Link to this
tbill: Don’t read the story if you don’t like the content. All too often, all we hear/read are negative things. While it is easy to question the relevance on society as a whole, it is nice to read a story of something good happening for someone.
By PG
February 17, 2009 12:10 PM | Link to this
Thank you Mark for doing this story! Jess’s ride has been a bumpy one & her story gives hope to many others with terminal diseases! As for you, tbill, get over yourself! This is a great story regarding both the personal & professional side of owning a small business & the people that will step up and help those small biz owners when they are in need. It just goes to prove what a great place Cuvee is and the family atmosphere that those who frequent Cuvee feel!
By tbill
February 17, 2009 11:53 AM | Link to this
How is this significant? If it were my dad or mom or brother, would you report it? It has something to do with wine, perhaps? No. Stick to telling us about the local restaurants which are closing, opening or getting Health Dept. citations.
By Patty
February 17, 2009 9:58 AM | Link to this
That is wonderful news! My thoughts and prayers are with you Jessica. Rest and take the time to heal. We’re glad everything went ok.
By deb
February 17, 2009 9:34 AM | Link to this
Bless you and your family. GOD is always with you. We will keep you in our prayers. Hope you have a speedy recovery.