The 10-year-old Pennsylvania girl who sparked a nationwide debate about the rights of children versus adults who are on organ transplant lists headed home on Tuesday with new lungs in place.
Sarah Murnaghan’s mother made the announcement on Facebook, saying her daughter was recovering well from the implant of two new sets of lungs at the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania, The Associated Press reported.
The girl suffers from cystic fibrosis and “cried tears of joy” at the news of her hospital discharge, AP reported.
“We entered CHOP on Feb. 19, more than six months ago,” the mother’s Facebook posting read. “I never could have imagined the journey that lay in front of us.”
The girl only received the lungs after a federal judge intervened and ruled that she could not be kept off an adult waiting list just because of her age.
Over the weekend, the girl was finally able to take off her oxygen mask and take a few steps, with the aid of a walker, AP reported. She was even able to go outside — something she has not been able to do for months.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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