Sarah Housman's Journey: Two Lung Transplants and World Transplant Games

Overcoming Cystic Fibrosis

• 💡 Sarah Housman was born with cystic fibrosis, a disease that severely impacted her breathing, making it feel like "breathing out of a black little cocktail straw."
• 🎯 This condition ultimately necessitated a double lung transplant.

First Lung Transplant and Setback

• 🚀 In 2019, Sarah received her first double lung transplant, which allowed her to experience activities like hiking and running for the first time.
• ⚠️ A few years later, she contracted COVID-19, which caused rejection and permanent damage to her new lungs, leading to the need for a second transplant.
• 🧠 The transition from the high of her first transplant experiences to the low of needing another was mentally taxing.

Second Lung Transplant and Recovery

• 🏥 Dr. Gundar's Cutlavs at Tampa General Hospital performed Sarah's redo double lung transplant in 2023, a procedure that is rarely done.
• 💪 Recovery from the second transplant was significantly more taxing on her body, but she persevered.
• ✅ Sarah recently celebrated her two-year anniversary since the second transplant, finding it hard to believe she has undergone two life-saving procedures.

Competing in the World Transplant Games

• 🏊‍♀️ Sarah is now preparing to compete in the World Transplant Games in Germany, representing Team USA in the backstroke.
• 훈련 She has been training rigorously, swimming four days a week, as swimming was recommended by doctors to help with blood clots and other issues, and for cardiovascular health.
• 🏅 Her doctor expressed immense pride in Sarah's grit, stamina, and determination to compete at this level.

Gratitude and Organ Donation

• 🙏 Sarah emphasizes the profound value of organ donation, stating it saved her life twice and can save up to eight lives per donor.
• ✨ She encourages moving forward with hope and acknowledges that receiving a transplant makes one deeply grateful for life.