Sarah Joy’s Story

Site created on September 6, 2019

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Sarah Joy Richards has Cystic Fibrosis and needs a double lung and liver transplant. You read that correctly, Sarah needs 2 lungs and 1 liver to replace her failing lungs and liver.   
The process of a double lung and liver transplant is long and arduous. Sarah and her mother Pam Richards will live in Durham, North Carolina next to the hospital for months before and after transplant surgery.  Her father Geoff and fiance Todd Dresdow will continue to work their respective jobs in Douglasville, GA and visit as often as they can.
Per her transplant team at Duke, a specific timetable cannot be given because of the  unknowns surrounding when she will get suitable organs and how her recovery will progress. We have been told to prepare for at least 10 months post surgery and because Sarah needs lungs and a liver, her wait on the transplant list will likely be longer.  All together, a full year away from her home, family, friends, and pets in a different city during the hardest time of her life. 

Newest Update

February 29, 2020

Journal entry by barb Dresdow —

From Sarah Thursday:  Today I had a bronch at Duke where they took biopsies of the lungs to check for signs of rejection. I ask for prayers as we await the results. Should all go well (and my doctor believes it will) my mama and I head HOME for GEORGIA THIS SATURDAY! My mom has posted a lot about it for a few weeks, but I couldn't believe it until it was closer. There is still such a long way to go and lots of trips back to Duke because this first year is critical but I get go home!!!

We've spent the past couple of days tracking down doctors and nurses with candy and cards to say thank you (do you know how many nurses and doctors that is?!?🙃). The hardest thank you note to write was to my lung surgeon, Dr. Haney.

I couldn't think of anything to tell him that expressed how much I owed him. How thankful I was for him. There are no Hallmark cards for someone who pries open your chest and swaps things around (and none for someone saving your life). Finally, I settled on part of a journal entry written in the year before transplant. I think it sums up this whole experience or at least reminds me of the "why" in why I did this. I was dying. Slowly at first, but faster all the time. I had no quality of life. Now, thanks to my donor, my doctors, and a billion prayers and positive vibes, I get to go home.     Noooooooo rejection!!!!! I'm coming home!
Read More of the journal titled "February 29, 2020"
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