Does it feel wierd to have someone else's lungs??

This is just one of many other questions that I answer on a pretty regular basis. In fact just the other day I had the privilege to meet and talk about my transplant to a a man named John, who is on Oxygen and dying due to COPD. He had not looked into getting a transplant because he had heard so many misconceptions and inaccurate facts about lung transplantation. It was all a pretty incredible coincidence (if you believe things are just that) however, I really believe God guided us both to a common person who put John in touch with me.

Among MANY questions he had for me one was "Does it feel weird having someone's lungs inside you?" Of course the answer is no, it doesn't feel any different than my own. .wait, It feels natural but 200% improved than my old ones. As I listened to his concerns and questions among the flat out wrong information he was told, it made me realize how scary the thought of lung transplant is AND was for me too.

I am thankful that through my story and my living testimony of the miracle of lung transplants I can help others. . . .

The questions I had pre-transplant were life expectancy afterward, dying on the surgery table, rejection, cost, pain, would it be worth it?, and what do I have to live for. Another question that I felt I needed to really understand was "Am I spiritually prepared to meet God if this surgery does not happen?" also "Do I have enough Faith to go through with it?" All of those questions I sorted out through prayer and found myself strengthened and prepared to face the hardest thing I had ever done in my entire life.

My new friend John has called me several times. I helped him find phone numbers to the closest transplant centers and he has since talked with a coordinator. . . he was kind enough to share his gratitude and I am so happy to have been able to help him. I don't claim to know much, but I try to share my hope and determination with others. John said I have gave him hope. . . that makes my whole journey worth it! I may never become a famous film actress, but I do know that my life has helped at least one man and that is worth it.


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