Grateful for every breath: 黑料网 patient is nation鈥檚 longest lung transplant survivor
Howell Graham, who received a lung transplant at 黑料网 Hospitals, is now the longest-surviving lung transplant patient in the United States. He talks about his transplant, the first for a cystic fibrosis patient at 黑料网, and his appreciation for the better life he received with his new lungs. Thomas M. Egan, M.D., M.Sc., was Graham鈥檚 transplant surgeon.
Feb. 26, 2017
In 1990, Howell Graham was the first cystic fibrosis patient to receive a lung transplant at 黑料网 Hospitals.
At that time, Graham was 28. His cystic fibrosis had progressed to the point that it was difficult to walk across a room. He didn鈥檛 think he could go on living that way.
His surgeon,聽Thomas Egan, MD, MSc, professor of surgery in the 黑料网 Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, had come to 黑料网 in 1989 to start its lung transplant program. Egan is an聽聽on lung transplantation.
At the time of Graham鈥檚 surgery, cystic fibrosis patients were not considered good candidates for lung transplant. But a new technique for performing a double lung transplant had been developed. Egan knew Graham was a good candidate.
All these years later, Graham, of Wilmington, still vividly remembers the moment he heard that a set of donor lungs might be available.
鈥淒r. Egan told me he was flying out to look at some lungs and I had all of these questions for him like 鈥榃hat if your plane is delayed?鈥� or 鈥榃hat if there鈥檚 a traffic jam?’鈥�
鈥淗e looked at me and said 鈥楬owell, it鈥檚 like Greyhound, leave the driving to us.’鈥�
Since receiving his lung transplant, Graham has built a successful career in a real estate appraisal firm. He met and married his wife. They bought their first home. He鈥檚 also had a lot of fun on his boat at Wrightsville Beach. He is now the聽longest-surviving lung transplant patient聽in the United States, and one of the longest survivors in the world.
Meanwhile, the聽, which led the way for lung transplants for cystic fibrosis patients, became one of the largest and most successful CF lung transplant programs in the world.
Not a day goes by that Graham isn鈥檛 thankful for the gift he received in 1990. And he鈥檚 made it his mission to spread the word about the importance of organ donation. He knows he likely wouldn鈥檛 be here without it.
鈥淭his portion of my life has been the best by far,鈥� he said.