Single or Bilateral (Double) Lung Transplantation

A lung transplant is one of the most difficult roller coaster rides in life that any family must undertake. The mission of this section is designed to assist families while on this path by providing information on organ donation, both since and bilateral (double) lung transplant processes , medications, home care, procedures such as spirometry and bronchoscopy, patient needs, assistance, and resources. It is our hope that this information may provide a foundation from which to stand during such a difficult time.

As you may already know from reading other sections of our website - Greg was in desperate need of a double (bilateral) lung transplant. His Cystic Fibrosis has gone into the end stage process. In November 2002, he was put on a ventilator and not expected to live. By the grace of God, although he was on a ventilator for about 9 months, Greg and I successfully worked together to where he was on 4L of oxygen 24/7 and home IVs. This was a vast improvement from where he was back on Thanksgiving Day 2002. He was still working to remain stronger and healthier for his upcoming transplant.

In the meantime, our family remained active in educating the population about organ donation. While 80% of people in America believe in organ donation, sadly, only 30% of them are actual organ donors. This is because people believe that they cannot donate because they are on a medication or they do not convey their wishes to their families.

On November 11, 2004, after 5 dry-runs, Greg finally received his miracle transplant at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Since then he has been strong and blessed with no rejection to date. It has been a long and hard battle that many call a roller coaster ride - even so, it was well worth it. Today Greg has returned to working full time and the only scars are those hidden under his shirt. Everyone that meets him is amazed when they find out he has had a double-lung transplant and was so sick right before his miracle. Now, he lives through example to hopefully teach everyone how precious life is and what matters most in life is not how much money you have or how many material items you have - it is how you live life and how you share it with those around you.

Of course, people always put off tomorrow what they can do today... because they believe there will always be a tomorrow. This is not always the case... please become an organ donor.