First Successful Organ Transplant

"..the idea that I can just live life and try and give back is very huge at this point." 

- Karen Niblock, Double Lung Recipient

Transcript of Video Interview

Why did you need a double lung transplant?

"I needed a double lung transplant because I developed a rare disorder called idiopathic pulmonary
fibrosis, which is a scarring of the lungs. So my body was basically anytime I had any kind of a problem,
most people have a little problem and it goes away, that would cause a scar each time on my lungs. And
the scars just got worse and worse, and then they started scarring on top of the scarring."

How long did it take to find compatible lungs?

"Five months and two days to find a compatible donor."

Can you describe the process of trying to find compatible lungs?

"Sure. So when it comes to lung transplants, your blood type is important. So my blood type is O which
makes me the universal donor, but not the universal recipient. So I had to have O lungs in order to make
that work. So they needed to find somebody with O lungs. They also needed to find somebody whose
lungs would fit inside my lung cavity. That meant that they were looking for somebody younger or
somebody smaller, because I'm not terrifically big. So somebody who's six foot two could not donate
lungs to somebody like me who's five foot one."

Who did you get your lungs from?

"Well, that's a secret, but what I do know from the procurement surgeons was it was a young girl, about
14 years old and that she had a tragic accident at her home and that she had decided in late seventh
grade that she was going to be a donor. And then, she translated that in eighth grade by telling her
parents that. So I do know that."

Were you familiar with organ transplants before you had one?

"I was a little bit familiar in that I had a friend who had a kidney transplant years ago, so I was familiar
with the process, but actually having to go through that was different because you have to be in top
physical shape, even though your lungs are dying. You have to be able to be on a treadmill for 30
minutes and they want you at an ideal weight and things like that."

I was going to ask if you knew anyone who had an organ transplant.

"So I did. I had a good friend who had a kidney transplant years ago."

Who was your transplant surgeon?

"My transplant surgeon's name was Dr. Keech at the University of Iowa and the transplant team was led by
Julia Klesny-Tate."

How has your life changed since you got your organ transplant?

"You know, the cool thing about having a second chance is that every morning when I get up, I think, how
can I make things better in the world with what I do today? So it's given me a second chance to kind of
continue teaching, continue directing and continue being a grandma, because I'm a new grandma to
four little ones. So the idea that I can just live life and try to give back is very huge at this point."