A 26-year-old woman, who had been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, pleaded with doctors to consider her case for a third lung transplant. With hope in her heart and desperation in her voice, she fervently requested another chance at life. And her plea did not fall on deaf ears. The medical team, moved by her determination, agreed to proceed with the transplant, providing her with a renewed sense of hope and a shot at a brighter future.
In April 2023, Taylor Stephenson received devastating news. As a teenager, she had already suffered from irreversible damage to her lungs due to a genetic disorder. Now, she learned that her second set of transplanted lungs was undergoing rejection.
“I was devastated when I heard that two lung transplants were the limit,” she confided to The Post on Thursday. “Tears streamed down my face.”
In September, Stephenson’s lung capacity had dwindled to a mere 14%. However, things took a turn for the worse when she contracted the flu, causing her lung capacity to plummet even further to a critical 8%.
In a phone interview, she expressed, “I felt like I was on the brink of death. It’s hard to fathom how I managed to persevere.”
Stephenson battled through the flu while residing in Dallas, where she underwent her second transplant. Despite the challenges, she made the brave decision to relocate her life to Durham, North Carolina, embarking on a seventeen-hour journey. Her determination led her to Duke University Hospital, where she was granted the opportunity for her third transplant.
However, before she could find a suitable match, she had to rely on an oxygen tank and experienced intense fatigue and loss of appetite due to her body rejecting the transplanted lungs.
Stephenson, despite her frail condition, underwent over a dozen cardio-therapy sessions. These sessions encompassed various exercises such as walking, biking, and strength conditioning. It is crucial for lung recipient candidates to be in good physical shape prior to undergoing a transplant.
A family is blaming the Easy Bake Oven for their poisoning, as they experienced symptoms such as shortness of breath, chills, and nausea.
After completing 17 sessions, she was able to convince the transplant committee to include her name on the transplant list. As a result, she was officially added on November 29th.
On January 13th, after more than a month had gone by and a new year had begun, she got a call at around 11 a.m. notifying her that a set of lungs was potentially a match and available.
By 1 p.m. that day, Stephenson eagerly made his way to the hospital, filled with hope for a third opportunity at survival.
Doctors, however, still needed to visually inspect the lungs to determine their suitability. Just before 5 p.m., the doctors gave their approval for the donor organs, and an hour later, Stephenson was prepared for surgery.
During the surgery, physicians encountered the challenges associated with performing a transplant on a patient who was undergoing their third procedure.
I was told by doctors that my seizures and paralysis were a result of anxiety. However, I later discovered that I actually had a rare brain condition.
The doctors spent approximately 12 hours working to stop the bleeding and stabilize her condition before she could undergo the successful lung transplant. During this time, she remained open-chested, allowing the medical team to perform the necessary procedures.
The battle, however, was far from being won.
Stephenson encountered another complication just two days later when doctors discovered a blood clot in her lower right lung. Thankfully, they skillfully removed it through her back, ensuring her recovery continued smoothly.
On Valentine’s Day, she had her first biopsy after the transplant, and the results showed no signs of rejection. Currently, her lung capacity is at 50% and steadily improving.
Stephenson expressed her amazement at how seamless her post-surgery experience has been, as she struggled with complications during her second transplant. She endured a third-degree burn and exhibited signs of rejection in the initial biopsy.
As April approaches, Stephenson is not only getting ready for her three-month biopsy but also preparing herself to conquer three mountains. With her new set of lungs, she is determined to achieve this ambitious goal.
“I’m going to do it,” she declared with unwavering determination.
Stephenson underwent her first lung transplant at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in 2015, at the age of just 16. However, after approximately four years in 2019, her body started to reject the transplanted lungs.
However, by that time, she had reached the legal age of adulthood and was unable to go back to St. Louis for a second transplant. Instead, she found herself at UT Southwestern in Dallas. Initially, they were hesitant to perform the procedure, as they preferred to work with patients they had treated before, according to Stephenson.
The head transplant surgeon agreed to take on her case after she pleaded with the hospital. However, those lungs also ended up failing her. Despite the team’s best efforts to reverse the rejection, they were ultimately unsuccessful.
UT Southwestern declined to perform a third transplant on her, citing their lack of experience in such cases. In August, her doctors referred her to Duke University Hospital, known for its expertise in performing third lung transplants, having successfully completed a total of 13 such procedures in the country.
Stephenson expressed her deep appreciation for the exceptional care team that supported her throughout her journey, with special mention to the skilled surgeon, Dr. Jacob Klapper, who performed the life-changing surgery.
“He genuinely cares,” she expressed about her surgeon, whom she referred to as her “saving grace.”
Stephenson aims to become a strong advocate for individuals who are currently experiencing similar challenges as she did.
“I want to share what I have experienced so far,” she enthusiastically expressed. “It’s incredible to think that third transplants are now a reality.”
