On Wednesday June 12, little Sarah Murnaghan got the miracle she had been waiting for - a new set of lungs.
Murnaghan has spent the past three months in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where she has been battling end-stage Cystic Fibrosis. At only 10 years old, Murnaghan wasn’t eligible to be on the waiting list for an adult lung transplant, despite being more ill than most of the adults on the list.
With time running out for Sarah, her parents began to campaign to have Sarah placed on the adult waiting list, which would greatly improve her chances of receiving a new lung. Their initial appeals were denied.
Fran and Janet Murnaghan sued in federal court in Philadelphia, and U.S. District Judge Michael Baylson ruled in the family’s favor last week, issuing a temporary restraining order that suspended the age limit in the nation's transplant rules for 10 days for Sarah. The temporary restraining order also covered Javier Acosta, 11, who was waiting for a lung transplant.
On Wednesday June 12, a lung became available and Sarah was promptly brought into surgery.
Sharing the good news, Sarah’s mother Janet posted to her Facebook around noon on June 12th: “God is great! He moved the mountain! Sarah got THE CALL. She will be taken back to the OR in 30min. Please pray for Sarah's donor, her HERO, who has given her the gift of life. Today their family has experienced a tremendous loss, may God grant them a peace that surpasses understanding. Please pray for Sarah and her surgical team and our whole family! We are overwhelmed with emotions!!!! Thank you to all of you for the unending support. Xoxoxo!! God bless! Today is the start of Sarah's new beginning and new life!”
The LA Times reports that The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network said 31 children under the age of 11 are on the waiting list for a lung transplant. About 1,700 adults are awaiting lungs.
Comments