Donate Life Month: Austrual Roberts Receives a Double-Lung Transplant
Austrual Roberts received a double lung transplant at Miami Transplant Institute in 2006. This is her story:
My life since birth has been a physical challenge. I have managed living with the disease Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and have braved the consequences of this chronic illness. It robbed me of my self-esteem, my dreams and any ideas to make grand plans for the future seemed almost impossible.
Over the years, I juggled life’s events between multiple hospitalizations, treatments and doctor’s visits. There was a fierce determination to have a bit of normalcy outside of the challenges of trying to balance my desires in life with my health concerns. My daily battle to breathe eventually became a fight to live. But, I still had a hope.
As time passed and it became clearer that my health was declining, my doctors suggested that I consider being evaluated for a double-lung transplant. I was baffled because I could not believe that I had gotten to that point. Here I was having to deal with my own mortality and having to make such a major decision. I knew I had to say yes to life and to the possibility that a transplant was my only hope.
In 2006, a family lost their loved one and made the selfless decision to donate the organs. It was because of that decision that I received my double-lung transplant. I am so grateful for the gift of life they gave to me. I think of them often and today I live my life in honor of their lost love. Because of my donor family, my life has been transformed and I have evolved into a better human being. I was the worm, but now I have become the butterfly.
Today, I am experiencing life beyond what I could have ever imagined for myself. I still have the loving support of my family and friends, I have planned our family’s reunion which was very successful, I am traveling and trying new things, meeting new people and I have recently become engaged to the most wonderful man. He is so supportive of me and my endeavors and I am so fortunate to share this life with him. The world is now my blank canvas.
In exchange for this gift of life, I feel I must give back. I am currently a Donate Life Ambassador for the Life Alliance Recovery Agency and I am a mentor for other patients who are candidates for the Jackson Memorial Miami Transplant Institute. Sharing my story and helping others to navigate through this journey of transplant, is an opportunity that I am proud to be a part of. It is imperative that our communities are educated on the truths and the importance of becoming an organ donor. Remember that you have the power to donate life. I am proof that organ donation changes lives.
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