A 26-year-old woman named Taylor Stephenson has successfully undergone a rare third double lung transplant, as she battled cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening condition that severely damages the lungs and other organs. Diagnosed at just 9 months old, Stephenson had been on medication and daily breathing treatments, but at 16, complications arose, leading to her first double lung transplant in 2015. However, after four years, she felt something was wrong and discovered her body had rejected the second set of lungs. Despite facing numerous hospital rejections due to the rarity of a third transplant, Stephenson eventually found hope with Duke Health’s transplant program, under the care of Dr. John M. Reynolds. Stephenson moved from Oklahoma to North Carolina, had the successful transplant in January, and has made impressive progress since, surprising her nurses by walking 50 feet just after surgery and over 200 feet the next day. Biopsy results on Valentine’s Day indicated no sign of rejection, leaving Stephenson feeling grateful and amazed by the whole experience.
