In January 2017, my at-that-time 29 year old friend faced a difficult decision. Her Cystic Fibrosis was at the point that medicine was just working for short periods of time as she was in and out of the hospital with her breathing problems. It was time to start deciding about a double lung transplant. The only option left. This beautiful young lady faced many struggles, many deep discussions with God and many, many hours of prayers from her and everyone that loved her.
In January 2017, she posted this on Facebook.
Hi, my name is Stephanie and I have Cystic Fibrosis. I am to the point of my life with this horrible disease that I am in need of a Double lung transplant, at the point I am at I cannot stay well for more than a week without IV antibiotics.......
She overcame her fears and started the process of procedures to get on the list for a double lung transplant. Around mid-July, she was at her all time health low and everything was in place as she was placed on the national register for a new set of lungs.
The middle of August, just a little over a month after she was placed on the list, we got the church call saying that our sweet Stephanie, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis received the call she had been waiting on. Vanderbilt University Medical Center contacted Stephanie. They had her a set of lungs. She headed right out for Nashville for her double lung transplant.
She finally got in her room and the lungs had arrived. Now began the wait for the doctors to check them out to give the final okay. There was still that chance that for one reason or another, they would not be accepted by the doctors. But she is a lady of remarkable faith and felt 100% sure they would be just right. A little later, they got the word that they were perfect and it was time to prep for the surgery. She showed no fear and had her faith firmly in God as the process began.
The biggest fear from the doctors were the removal of the old lungs. Cystic Fibrosis can damage them to the point that they are hard to remove and many things are happening during the process that can cause complications. Here were the updates throughout the night from her Mom....
A little after 1:00 a.m. - Just got a call from Operating Room. Surgery hasn't started yet still checking out lungs to make sure they are good and will work.
A little after 2:00 a.m. - Just got the call from surgery. Lungs good; it's a go.
A little after 3:00 a.m. - Old right lung out, just starting to put new one in.
Around 5:30 a.m. - New right lung is in, inflated, pink and functioning. Praise God
Around 7:30 a.m. - They are done. Both lungs are in and looking good. She is on a ventilator hopefully for only a short time. Should be a couple of hours then back to her room. They are going to do a bronch before bringing her back. Less than 24 hours since getting the call and she has her new lungs!!
Stephanie was put on the transplant list on the 14th of July. She was warned it could take months or even a year or more. But she and her unshakable faith kept telling us God wouldn't make her wait that long because He knew how bad she needed them. And 5 weeks later to the day, she had her new lungs. . Her friends and family are now declaring August 18th as Happy Breath Day for Stephanie.
She was to be in the hospital for up to 2 weeks. Six days after surgery, she was declared fit enough to go "home" to the temporary apartment that would be near the hospital with instructions she could be there for up to a year. Three months later, with a clean bill of health and many shocks from the medical community, she was cleared to come home to East Tennessee. So NOT a year like they thought, NOT six months like they hoped, BUT THREE MONTHS after a double lung transplant she was back home with new lungs and a new outlook on life.
Fast forward to this past week, she has done so much in the past two years since she got the new lungs. She has been on bike rides, outings with her family and friends, hiked up the heights of the Great Smoky Mountains. And she has done it all with something she never had before....the ability to breath normally like the rest of us. She had her two year check up this week and passed with flying colors.
Throughout every moment of this journey her faith has been unshakable, her fears were placed with God. But not for one moment have any of us ever forgotten that wonderful person who had made a decision for their lungs to be harvested so they could help someone in need someday. It is sad to think of the loss someone was suffering when we were all moving forward with great joy. But some family somewhere out there can rest knowing that those beautiful pink lungs are functioning every day and bringing more joy to Stephanie than she ever imagined she would have.
She was a little baby born with a horrible disease and not expected to live past 16 .... BUT GOD had other plans. Happy 2 year anniversary next week to my beautiful friend, Stephanie. We love you girl!
