November 15, 2002

The MGH Lung Transplant Program recently honored uncommon heroes – living lung donors – and the generous gift they have given to a loved one.

Family, friends, staff and transplant recipients gathered at a special celebration Nov. 8 to give thanks to the people who donated part of their lung to a family member or friend. Donors were treated to a dinner, with grateful remarks from MGH staff and recipients and also received an engraved crystal plaque to honor their gift of life.

Since 1995, 12 MGH patients have been the recipients of living donor lung transplants. In this process, which requires two donors for every one recipient, a portion of one lung, called a lobe, is taken from each donor and then is transplanted into the recipient.

Living lung recipients are usually very sick patients who are unable to wait the typical two-year period for a lung from a cadaver. With the imminent need for a transplant, the patient's only hope is often family members or friends.

"It is important to recognize the people who so selflessly gave a part of themselves to help a loved one," says Karen Tanklow, LICSW, social worker for the MGH Lung Transplant Program. "It was an emotional but very happy night for everyone."