Philadelphia woman receives life-saving lung transplant

A Philadelphia woman is on the road to recovery after undergoing a double lung transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

Lisa Harrell, 51, received the life-changing call around 7 p.m. on Sunday that a set of donor lungs was available after spending two weeks at the top of the transplant list. 

After receiving the call, overcome with emotion, Harrell and her family quickly packed their bags and made the trip to Nashville that same night. The date was especially meaningful, her family said, as it coincided with her great-nephew’s birthday.

Harrell was diagnosed four years ago with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a rare and progressive lung disease that causes irreversible scarring and thickening of lung tissue.

Her family said that the disease initially presented as a persistent cough with no clear cause. 

“There is no definitive reason she has the disease—it just manifested,” said her niece, Brook Miles, who contacted the Democrat about the story. 

Harrell was initially told she might only have two years to live, and with no available treatments to stop the disease’s progression, a double lung transplant became her only option.

“She is the most giving and honest person I’ve ever met,” Miles said.

Before her diagnosis, Harrell worked as a registered nurse. She has one daughter and five grandchildren, who are her greatest motivation.

“She’s all about her grandkids,” Miles said. “She’s always been the aunt who makes everything fun. If she’s there, you know it’s going to be a good time. She’s funny and brutally honest.”

Miles said Harrell has stayed hopeful and resilient throughout her battle with the disease.

“She hasn’t given up, not one time,” Miles said. “At first, she was told she wasn’t well enough to survive the transplant, but she kept pushing, trying, and caring for everyone around her.”

Harrell’s condition worsened significantly over the past six months, landing her in the hospital and on full-time oxygen. Her rapid progression finally placed her at the very top of the transplant list.

“It got to a point where she couldn’t keep her oxygen levels up, even with full-time oxygen,” Miles said. “Over the last six months, it got really bad, really fast.”

Despite her struggles, Harrell remained steadfast in her determination not to let her family see her defeated by the disease. 

“She always puts on her best face,” Miles said.

Harrell underwent the double lung transplant Monday afternoon, with surgery concluding around 10 p.m. 

“She did really well,” her family said.

Harrell is currently in the ICU, where she will remain sedated for the next few days. Her recovery will include several weeks in the hospital, followed by a three-month stay in a rented house near the hospital in Nashville to allow for close monitoring.

Miles said her aunt is eager to get back on her feet, keep up with her grandchildren, and eventually return to work.

Through it all, Harrell has maintained a positive outlook, often reminding her family of her new perspective and her desire to make every breath count.