Inova Lung Services — Patient Resources —
Patient Stories
Patient Stories
Nothing compares to a personal, first-hand account from one of our lung recipients. We thank our real-life storytellers for their willingness to share their experiences and tell their stories of courage, joy and gratitude.
20 Year Lung Transplant Survivor Colleen Adamson
On July 3, 1998, at the age of 29, Colleen Adamson became Inova’s first Cystic Fibrosis patient to receive a double lung transplant, giving her a new lease on life. In July 2018, Colleen reunited with her original care team at Inova to celebrate her miraculous 20-year anniversary.
One year anniversary
Julia Allen, second from left, attends the Tree of Life ceremony with her mother, Brenda Bridges (left) and two Inova Fairfax Hospital CCU nurses on the one-year anniversary of her double lung transplant for cystic fibrosis.
Julia's eight-year-old-daughter, Lexi, attended the 2013 Tree of Life ceremony while her mother was in surgery, memorializing her mom's transplant with a notation in the guestbook that read, "My mom's getting her lungs right now."
It's a small world!
You never know who you will come across. Or when.
Former lung transplant patient Michael Birchenall (left), crossed paths with his surgeon, Dr. Paul Massimiano (right), on the day of his one-year transplant anniversary. Michael says he only met Dr. Massimiano in the ICU following his surgery. This was his opportunity to say thank you under much better conditions, a "beautiful surprise," he called it.
Disease Specific Transplant Stories
Lung transplant patients share their unique experiences.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD)
Cystic Fibrosis
Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
Interstitial Lung Disease
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Other Patient Stories
Transplant Process – What to Expect
Transplant patients share their personal experiences with transplant and what to expect at various phases of the process.
Evaluation
Angelia Moorer, a sarcadosis patient, discusses the transplant evaluation process.
Getting The Transplant Call
Heather Rekeweg Cronin talks about getting the transplant call and the hours leading up to surgery.
Transplant Day & ICU
Donald Mooring shares his transplant day experience and post-transplant intensive care.
Post-Transplant
Mamoud Sheadegh shares his experience, including the ups and downs, medications and complications.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Larry Kern discusses his experience with pulmonary rehabilitation.