Saved by a double lung transplant
"I cried when I arrived home for the first time. I had been stuck in the hospital for ages and I thought I would never see my house again," said La Lucia resident, Michelle Michael,
THREE years ago, Michelle Michael was staring death in the face. Her body was slowly shutting down due to the debilitating disease affecting her lungs – Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Doctors had stopped all forms of treatment and had explained to the La Lucia resident that there was nothing more they could do for her.
The only thing that could save her life was a double lung transplant. But she had already been waiting for months and the likelihood of finding a donor which matched the exact specifications were next to impossible.
Since being diagnosed in 2010, Michelle’s body had slowly wasted away. The mother, an attorney, had reached a point where she was barely able to talk, let alone walk or pick up a newspaper.
“I did not cry when the doctors broke the news to me. I was in so much agony that when my parents arrived later that day I told my mum that God must do one of three things: perform a miracle and heal me, grant me a transplant or take me away, because I couldn’t deal with it any more. It felt like I was drowning,” she said.
Then, three hours after doctors broke the news (on 10 February 2012), a donor was miraculously located and a successful transplant was performed. It took Michelle a year to recover. Through physiotherapy she had to learn to walk, write and even drive again.
“I cried when I arrived home for the first time. I had been stuck in the hospital for ages and I thought I would never see my house again,” she said. Now, with the start of Organ Donor Awareness Month in August, the 45-year-old shared her story of hope with the Northglen News in the hopes of encouraging more people to register as donors.”I am grateful for the donor and her family. They have given me and several other recipients a second chance. I know that their loss could not have been easy and I pray that they find peace,” she added.
Michelle is determined not to waste her new lease on life and has returned to work, although a constant fear of infection prevents her from working full-time. She has also become an inspirational speaker and strives to raise awareness about organ donation and to share her tale of survival.
“If I can inspire at least one person and save a life, then I will be happy. I just cannot understand how someone who has the opportunity to save the life of another would pass on that opportunity,” she said.
Registration can be done in a few minutes. Just visit the ODF website, www.odf.org.za, or call the toll-free number, 0800 22 66 11.
