According to a story from theage.com.au, a remarkable turn of fate would bring together two women who would have otherwise never known each other—and save both of their lives in the process. Connie Severino, aged 42 years, had cystic fibrosis, and her lungs were starting to fail her. Karen Carey, aged 52 years, had end-stage heart failure. Connie needed new lungs and Karen needed a new heart.
About Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a type of genetic disorder which can have impacts throughout the body, but it is most characterized by the build up of abnormally thick, sticky mucus in the lungs. This mucus becomes a fertile breeding ground and habitat for potentially infectious bacteria. Many patients must take antibiotics for much of their lives. This disorder is caused by mutations of the CFTR gene. Symptoms of cystic fibrosis include progressive decline in lung function, lung and sinus infections, coughing up mucus, fatty stool, poor growth, infertility in males, clubbed digits, and digestive problems. Treatment includes antibiotics and medications or procedures intended to maintain lung function. Lung transplant is an option when lung function declines severely. Life expectancy ranges into the 40s and 50s with good care. To learn more about cystic fibrosis, click here.
Karen and Connie: A Shared Donor and Fast Friends
As it turned out, the two women were able to get the organs that they needed on the same night, from the same donor. Karen says that the knowledge that they shared organs from the same body has created a unique bond between them.
At that point, Karen and Connie had lived very different lives. Karen had children and had been married three times. Meanwhile Connie, anticipating an early death because of her diagnosis, had steered away from starting a family. Karen says that she is greatly inspired by Connie, who ran a race called City to Surf in Sydney the first year after the operation.
Meanwhile, Connie says that she also felt connected to Karen once she knew they had the same donor. Connie says that the two of them are convinced that the donor was a young man. With her lung function restored, Connie says that it has changed her behavior simply because there is so much more that she can do. The transplant experience makes her feel like Karen and herself have started on a new journey in life together; after all, many of Connie’s friends that had cystic fibrosis have already passed away.
The pair are now good friends; Connie says that she wished they had met 20 years earlier.
