I’m still trying to define who I am after a double-lung and liver transplant five years ago. Although I am much healthier, I sometimes still struggle with my physical and mental health, and I don’t know what I want to do next in my life.
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I underwent liver and kidney transplants in 2021 after a successful lung transplant in 2012. For a number of reasons, the recovery from second transplant was much more difficult.
I spent 2020 in COVID-19 quarantine and in the hospital separated from my family while waiting for transplant. I'm very grateful that the call came and I have new lungs -- and a new life.
I didn't know until date four that my future wife had cystic fibrosis and was a lung transplant recipient. She was too wonderful for me to care.
When I met my husband, who has cystic fibrosis, he was listed for a double-lung transplant. I thought I was prepared for that. I wasn't.
Although they have been full of physical and emotional challenges, as well as life interruptions, multiple transplants have helped me become the person I am.
Deciding to get on the double-lung transplant waiting list was a very difficult decision, emotionally. I was lucky my care team recommended early referral. It gave me the time to process my emotions about transplant and make an educated decision.
Since starting the transplant journey, I have learned many things, run into many roadblocks, and been left shocked by other issues.
After my social media post went viral, I finally found my lung donor's family. The emotional meeting with them brought a confusing mix of happiness, grief, gratitude, and survivor's guilt. I received lungs because my donor was killed in a shooting.
Although I went through a lung transplant evaluation, I decided not to be listed.