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Egan: New lungs in April, kayaking in August — a young woman can breathe again

In 1983, there was just one successful lung transplant in Ontario, but the first in the world. In 2015, there were 127 —and little clamour — as though novelty finally exhaled.

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In 1983, there was just one successful lung transplant in Ontario, but the first in the world. In 2015, there were 128 —and little clamour — as though novelty finally exhaled.

So, for every rock-star recipient like Hélène Campbell (street naming, Ellen DeGeneres fave, Bieber shout-out) there are many other miracles quietly played out, lives regained.

There is, for instance, Kathleen Hanna, 22, of Kinburn, a hamlet west of Ottawa, who shyly tells an inspiring story.

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Born with cystic fibrosis, she fell so ill early this year that she was airlifted to Toronto, in anticipation of a double-lung transplant at Toronto General Hospital, one of the leading such centres in the world.

Down to 98 pounds, lung function at 17 per cent, forced to use a wheelchair, she was literally fighting to stay alive. She signed off on the transplant in February and the 11-hour operation was performed on April 6 — the exact day Campbell received her lungs in 2012.

“It was like starting my life over again,” Kathleen said one day last week, at the kitchen table with her mother, Julie, three cats and a dog underfoot. “I got a fresh new start and I could be excited about the future.”

The oldest of three (there is a brother, too, with CF), Kathleen says she coped quite well with the condition, and was able to complete high school and play competitive soccer. Still, the genetic disease, which affects the lungs and digestive system with mucus buildup and frequent infections, began to worsen at age 16.

Hospitalizations were more frequent, antibiotics went from pill form to intravenous, and it was difficult to maintain a job or a normal life.

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“Just walking around got to be too much for my lungs. I couldn’t even go out with friends. Just going to a movie took too much out of me.”

Already taking 20 to 30 pills a day just to digest food, it also affected her outlook. “I couldn’t picture myself working anywhere.”

As her lungs worsened, it became clear a transplant was her only long-term option and the family entered the pipeline in May 2015, beginning a rigorous medical screening that included psychiatric and social worker input.

Kathleen Hanna said she ‘could be excited about the future’ again after receiving a double lung transplant.
Kathleen Hanna said she ‘could be excited about the future’ again after receiving a double lung transplant. Photo by Julie Oliver /Postmedia

At the critical peak, Julie, a school teacher, and her husband Ken, moved into a Toronto condo, made possible by a generous fundraising effort in the Kinburn area. Kathleen, meanwhile, exercised as best she good (90 minutes, three times a week) to stay in shape for the major surgery.

“The day I got the call, I was really excited and kinda lost all my nerves.”

It was remarkable, Julie said, how quickly the new lungs were working. Only an hour after surgery, Kathleen was waving weakly to them and writing notes in shaky handwriting.

The next day, she was up walking a little and three weeks later left hospital. She’s now put on about 35 pounds, is exercising regularly and was preparing for a three-hour kayak trip on the weekend. A recent test put lung function at 87 per cent.

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Lungs were once among the most difficult organs to transplant. In 1983, before the breakthrough case in Toronto, 44 lung recipients around the world died within days or weeks. Today, survival rates at the one-year mark are well above 80 per cent and 92 per cent for those with CF.

Dr. Lianne Singer is medical director of the lung transplant clinic at Toronto General, part of the University Health Network. There have been many improvements over the years, she explained, including better surgical techniques, breakthrough anti-rejection drugs and a made-in-Toronto technology called Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion.

The treatment can keep alive and actually improve the condition of a donor lung before transplantation. It has dramatically increased the number of available organs. Still, some patients are dying on wait lists.

“Well, the main thing is the lack of donors,” said Dr. Singer. “That’s really what is limiting all organ transplants across the board.”

The median survival for CF transplant patients is 10 years, she said, but some have lived for about 20. “The outcomes are just getting better and better over time.”

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The Hanna family is, of course, grateful to the donor and his or her family, and is using the opportunity to remind people about the importance of “having the talk” about organ donation.

“If I could say anything to the donor’s family, it would be thank you for giving me a fresh start, and being so selfless and giving me another chance,” said Kathleen.

Added Julie: “They are our heroes. I can’t imagine the grief they were feeling that day. The worst day of their lives became our best, for sure.”

They have written a letter of gratitude and sent it to the Trillium Gift of Life Network. “I hope they find some peace knowing that their gift provided somebody with a life,” said Julie.

To contact Kelly Egan, please call 613-726-5896 or email kegan@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/kellyegancolumn

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