National Donate Life Month is an opportunity to share our stories
Let's spread the word about the importance of being an organ donor
As of April 11, almost 105,000 people are awaiting an organ transplant in the U.S., according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. Of those, 993 are waiting for a lung transplant. In the past year, 879 lung transplants were performed.
When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 2017, I was 59 years old. I knew shortly after my diagnosis that I would pursue a lung transplant if possible, so I spoke with my healthcare team about the process. I also researched how organ transplant programs work, including how people are evaluated and ranked. The transplant window is dictated by a patient’s need for a transplant when they aren’t too advanced in health decline to survive one.
My condition worsened during the winter of 2020 and into the following year. I needed 7 liters per minute of supplemental oxygen just to walk across the room.
I was listed for a lung transplant in March 2021. I waited three and a half months before I received the call that donor lungs were available, although to me, it seemed much longer. On July 9, 2021, I was admitted to the hospital before my donor lungs arrived. I went into surgery early the next day, and nine hours later, I was moved to the recovery ward and eventually into intensive care.
The gift of life
At about 5 p.m. on July 11, I was awakened from sedation and extubated, and I took my first breaths with my donor lungs.
This was only possible because of my organ donor and my donor’s family, who didn’t know me personally. To this day, I don’t know anything about my donor. I do write to my donor family through the organ procurement office that covers the area where I received my transplant.
April is National Donate Life Month, a reminder that each of us can give the gift of life. It’s a time to raise awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation.
I have questions about my donor that I don’t have the answers to, such as did they have siblings? Who in their family is still alive today? But what I do know is that their legacy lives on through me. If one day my donor family decided to respond to me, I’d want to answer their questions, too. I keep a stethoscope in my home office in case I meet them one day. I want them to hear my breath, which was made possible by my donor lungs. My responsibility is to ensure their loved one’s legacy lives on through my life and actions.
In this post-transplant phase of my life, I continue to be an organ donor. My donor lungs are in good condition. My eyes, liver, and tissue are in good condition. My heart, however, is a work in progress, as I have cardiac issues that my care team is tracking. I also have chronic kidney disease, so my kidneys aren’t viable for transplant. I’ve made my intentions known to my care team.
Do me a favor: When you talk to others about pulmonary fibrosis and your experience, can you ask them if they are organ donors? Signing up to be an organ donor is simple and can be done online in the U.S. Even if you aren’t considering a lung transplant for yourself, ask on behalf of others who want to be considered for one.
The number of transplants performed and the number of people waiting for one change every day. If we increase the size of the donor pool, it’s more likely that organs will be available when they’re needed. Together, our contribution to increasing those numbers is how we can make every breath count.
Note: Pulmonary Fibrosis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Pulmonary Fibrosis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to pulmonary fibrosis.
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