Letter to the Editor by Courtney Thompson

Currently, there are 116,000+ men, women and children waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant in the U.S.  Every day 22 people die waiting with someone new added to the organ donor list every 10 minutes. One of those is Courtney, and this is her story.

My name is Courtney Thompson, I’m 23 years old and on the waiting list for a double lung transplant. I have Cystic Fibrosis, a progressive genetic lung disease, and to beat it I’ll need a double lung transplant. I live in Murray, Kentucky, and recently graduated from Murray State University. Every day I strive to be an advocate for organ donation and Cystic Fibrosis awareness.

I was listed on December 29, 2016. My lungs are currently functioning at 27%, and I’m on three liters of oxygen. Life hasn’t been easy, but I have a wonderful family and friends who love me and are always supportive. If it weren’t for them, Cystic Fibrosis would have already defeated me, but I won’t back down.

A transplant can come at any time. On September 4, 2017, at 8:30 p.m. I received a call about a set of lungs that could be a match. Soon afterward my doctor told me I wouldn’t receive them because the only surgeon on staff had transplanted three others within 48 hours. But even though it didn’t work out, I’m still thankful and hopeful because I know there will be another call.

Please become a registered organ donor by going to Registerme.org or saying “yes” at your Circuit Court Clerk’s office when asked if you want to register. There’s no testing or blood work, just the word “yes”. Because when you register people like me and so many others, will have another chance at life. A life we’ve never had because of a chronic illness holding us back. Courtney Thompson