When Saskatoon resident Sherry Duncan Paterson first heard the diagnosis, Primary Pulminary Hypertension, she was devastated. The doctors told her she was dying and the only hope was to have a heart double lung transplant.

It was 1992 – Sherry had a young family to take care of. She had a 3-year-old daughter and had just given birth to her second daughter 6 weeks before hearing this numbing news. “I had just given birth and was told I was dying – it was just a devastating blow to my husband and I.” “I became very sick very quickly”. Within weeks, the disease that effected Sherry’s lung capacity and enlarged her heart took its toll. Her skin took on a blue tone. She could barely walk a few steps without having to catch her breath and could not do the simplest of tasks including picking up her newborn baby. “It was an awful time in our lives – I hoped and prayed that I might receive this transplant. My time was running out quickly. My wish was that I live to see my girls grow up and that they know me as their mother.”

Five months after her diagnosis, the life-saving news came. Sherry was flown to the University of London, Ontario hospital where she received a heart double lung transplant. I can still hear so clearly the first words my husband spoke when I woke up from the transplant. “You are so pink!’ I knew when I heard that I would be ok. I spent 3 months in Ontario recovering with my husband and oldest daughter by my side. Family in Saskatoon were caring for my baby. My physical therapy was geared so that when I was reunited with my baby that I would to be able to finally pick her up. It was a joyous day when we were all reunited at the airport.”

It is now 2007 – 15 years after Sherry’s life saving transplant. Sherry got her wish. “I’ve watched my girls grow up and become beautiful young women now aged 15 and 18. I’ve gotten to be their mom. I can’t express how precious that is to me. My transplant was the most wonderful gift I received. It is so hard to put into words the gratitude I feel toward the family that made the decision to give the gift of organ donation.”

Sherry is one of the longest surviving heart double lung transplant recipients in Canada