A 26-year-old woman named Taylor Stephenson has successfully undergone an incredibly rare third double lung transplant. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just 9 months old, Stephenson required medication and daily breathing treatments. At 16, she experienced complications with her lungs and received her first double lung transplant in 2015. Four years later, Stephenson realized that something was wrong and her body had rejected the second pair of lungs. Determined to find a solution, she reached out to multiple hospitals, but most were unwilling to perform a third double lung transplant due to its rarity.
Fortunately, Dr. John M. Reynolds, a Transplant Pulmonologist at Duke Health, took a chance on Stephenson and she was accepted into their transplant program. Making a major life change, she moved from Oklahoma to North Carolina to restart the transplant process. In January, she underwent the successful transplant surgery. Remarkably, Stephenson has made exceptional progress since the procedure. Her nurses were astounded when she walked 50 feet on the day she sat up in a chair, and even managed to walk over 200 feet the following day. Furthermore, her first biopsy on Valentine’s Day showed no signs of rejection.
Stephenson expressed her gratitude and described the experience as both crazy and amazing. Dr. Reynolds highlighted the challenges and risks involved in multiple surgeries and the long-term use of transplantation medications. Despite this, Stephenson’s smooth transplant experience has given her a renewed sense of hope and appreciation. Her inspiring story sheds light on the possibilities and benefits of third double lung transplants, providing hope to others facing similar circumstances.
