Karen Lunt

Lung Recipient

“I never imagined that I would need an organ transplant. In 2022, after many years of dealing with interstitial lung disease, my doctors told me that I would require a double lung transplant to survive,” shared Karen, a double lung transplant recipient.   

“Before my transplant, I required 24/7 supplemental oxygen. Once I completed the required testing, I qualified and was officially listed on the transplant waiting list in September of 2022. Less than a month later, I received two direct donation offers, which are incredibly rare. The first offer was from one of my nephews, who had been in a fatal accident, but he was not a match. He went on to save three lives through his gift of donation. The second offer came from Dylan, the biological cousin of our adopted children. It was an unexpected gift and a true miracle. Years before, we had said yes to a foster care placement and then adopted our children, which gave us this biological connection to Dylan and his family, who saved my life. This sequence of events was no coincidence; it was a miracle.   

I love to share my story because it is a story of hope. I want to honor my donor hero, Dylan, and his family and encourage others to become registered donors. The gift I have received has been life-changing, and I’m now able to be there for my family in a way I couldn’t before my transplant. Everything I do now is possible because of Dylan’s gift, and I am forever grateful.”