John Kirkpatrick

John Kirkpatrick is a retired Doctor of Internal medicine who is alive today thanks to the lung transplant he received in 2022. Without that transplant he would not be able to enjoy his life with his wife, three kids, and eight grandchildren – he wouldn’t be able to golf, play tennis, or pursue the completion of his other “bucket-list” items – without the aid of a respirator, and even with that he suffered from a debilitating cough. 

Dr. Kirkpatrick unfortunately inherited a progressive restrictive lung disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis(IPF) that causes significant lung damage and scarring that results in progressively worsening stiffening, coughing, and breathlessness in most cases leading to eventual organ failure. Before he received his new lungs, Dr. Kirkpatrick says he was, “short of breath with minimal exertion, even with supplemental oxygen” and had been told to, “get his affairs in order” after being told that it was unlikely that he would survive the week. He and his family were left holding out hope for a Donor. 

“Fortunately, it was only three days,” John says that on the third night he and his wife got the call, “It was 2:00 AM and they called telling us to report to the hospital by 12:00 PM noon, for surgery at 3:00PM.” The donor that matched had just died and doctors had to move fast. When asked how he felt and what he did after hearing the news of the lung transplant being possible, Dr. Kirkpatric says, “we tried to go back to sleep, but couldn’t. We were excited about the possibilities ahead, but also realized that it wasn’t a given that I would survive the operation either.” 

Once the surgery was a success and healing was underway, he took the time to write the donor’s family a letter and hopes they know how much of a difference they made in his life. John puts it simply: “I would not be alive some three years later if my donor had not made that decision. I am saddened that he died likely suddenly and tragically, but am grateful for the chance to continue my life.” 

He shares his story with others now to encourage everyone who can to not only enjoy and cherish their life but sign up to be a donor too, “Be grateful for your own life, and know that if your life is tragically taken away, your organs can lift up a fellow human being. It is a relatively simple thing you can do to make a significant difference perhaps in multiple lives.” 

Thanks to his donor signing up and checking that box, Dr. Kirkpatrick no longer needs oxygen for normal activities and is able to watch his grandchildren grow up and thrive.