The 10-year-old girl at the heart of a national debate over transplant lists that led to a fight on Capitol Hill — and criticism of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius — had successful lung surgery and is recovering well, doctors said Thursday.
Sarah Murnaghan, who has cystic fibrosis and was in dire need of a double lung transplant, is in intensive care, but on the road to full recovery, the Daily Mail reported. She only received the surgery after a court ruled that Ms. Sebelius must open the door to place her on an adult transplant list, despite her age. Current law says only those ages 12 or older can be placed on adult transplant lists.
“We expect it will be a long road, but we’re not going for easy, we’re going for possible,” said Sarah’s mother, in a Facebook posting. “And an organ donor has made this possible for her.” She earlier wrote, after receiving news of the organ donor: “God is great. He moved the mountain,” the Daily Mail reported.
The case led to another child, 11, being moved to the adult transplant list. Javier Acosta, 11, is now awaiting new lungs at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, the Daily Mail reported. Ms. Murgaghan said that without the judge’s intervention, her little girl never would have received the lungs.
“Sarah would’ve been number 400 or something on the list,” she said, in the Daily Mail.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.