The Gift of Life

Happy Lungversary Dad! We love you so much!

I wrote these words last year, but I think they are perfect and this is still my favorite post transplant picture of my dad…

Not many people get a second birthday. My dad was one of the few lucky ones that received the gift of life from someone we’ll never know.

Three years ago, June 8, 2017… we woke up on another typical Thursday morning to go do typical things, only to shortly find out mom and dad had received a call about a possible donor lung being available. The day quickly turned into being anything but typical.

Late in the morning we were notified that the lung was a match and Dad was going to surgery. Cameron and I left work and rushed to Duke University Medical Center to be with Mom and Dad. Things moved so quickly that we couldn’t even make it in time to see Dad before surgery.

Doctors, nurses and case workers had explained how involved the operation and recovery can be, but I honestly don’t think any of us really understood just how intense it would be. Recovery took weeks and we had a few challenges along the way, but we are so fortunate that Dad is doing well and has a second lease on life.

We are so thankful that Dad ended up receiving a donor lung. Each year, approximately 36,000 people receive an organ transplant in the United States.

Every single day in this country, 20 people die waiting for a transplant… I never thought much about organ donation until it affected my family, as is probably the case with most of us. Without a lung transplant from someone who made the choice to give life, my Dad would no longer be with us.

Please consider registering as an organ donor so you can be the sponsor of a miracle and a part of someone’s second chance. You can register online at donatelifenc.org or organdonor.gov.