The Power of Mentorship: Supporting Others Through the Lung Transplant Journey

A Sudden Shift: From Health to Sarcoidosis

If you had told me six years ago that I would have a double lung transplant, become a mentor, and write about my experience, I would have said, “Me? No way!”. My name is Liz Gibb; I am 72 years old and live in Fargo, North Dakota. Seven years ago, I slowly began not feeling well, experiencing coughing, fatigue, and weight loss.

My lung disease snuck up on me so gradually that it became my new normal. Though I was not a smoker and hadn’t worked around harmful substances, I learned that sometimes the cause of lung disease is simply unknown. Initially, I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis.

The Road to the Cleveland Clinic

Despite treatments, I continued to get sicker. By the time I reached the Mayo Clinic, I weighed only 87 pounds and couldn’t walk across my living room. There, I was diagnosed with PPFE, a rare lung disease.

“I was told a double lung transplant was my only option. However, Mayo would not list me… because my lungs had scarred to my chest wall.”

They referred me to the Cleveland Clinic, which accepted me on two conditions: I had to gain weight via a feeding tube and move to Cleveland. We were there less than two weeks when I got “The Call”.

Recovery During COVID-19

I received my transplant on January 26, 2021. Because it was during the pandemic, no visitors—including my husband—were allowed. The nurses stepped in, telling me, “We’ll be your family!”. They held my hand, FaceTimed my family, and provided a mix of deep professionalism and love.

Living “All In” and Giving Back

Today, I feel healthy and strong. I have run 5k races, hiked, and played pickleball. I am finally “all in” in life again. Driven by gratitude for my donor, I took up public speaking to share my story with medical students and community groups.

The Reward of Mentorship

I eventually found an opportunity to become a mentor for others on the transplant journey. It has been an extraordinary experience. I recently met one of my mentees in person—an amazing woman whose own “long and winding road” to transplant has been a massive inspiration to me.

“If you feel as I did, that your transplant journey didn’t end with your own recovery…becoming a mentor might be the most rewarding part of your experience.”

Don’t Let Them Walk the Path Alone

Our Mentorship Program is one of our most valuable resources, connecting transplant recipients and caregivers with trained volunteers who have personally experienced the lung transplant journey.

If you are passionate about supporting others, we invite you to become a Mentor and help guide others through their path to recovery. Together, we can build a stronger, more supportive community.

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