On Saturday, August 17th, Laurel Wyler’s world was about to change in a way she could have never predicted. As the mother of Jennifer Dunlea, a young woman who has been fighting Cystic Fibrosis her entire life, Laurel was no stranger to the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with such a challenging journey. Yet, nothing could have prepared her for the text she received that day from her college friend, Bridget Riley.
Bridget’s message wasn’t just a friendly check-in; it was a beacon of hope. She mentioned a possible direct organ donation from a family connected to her son’s work. In the world of organ transplants, this type of direct donation is almost unheard of. The NYU Langone Lung Transplant Team, renowned for their expertise, acknowledged how rare and extraordinary this opportunity was.
The hours that followed were a whirlwind of communication. Texts, emails, and phone calls flew back and forth as Laurel, Bridget, and the medical teams worked tirelessly to coordinate the possibility of this life-saving gift. Time seemed to stand still as they navigated the complexities of such a significant and delicate process.
By early Sunday morning, August 18th, the NYU Langone Transplant Team delivered the news that would change Jen’s life forever: she had been offered the lungs, and they were a match. The team accepted the donation, but they were quick to remind Laurel that the journey was far from over—this was just the beginning of a complex and critical process.
As the day progressed, anticipation and anxiety filled the air. At 4:30 p.m., Jen was wheeled into the operating room at NYU Langone, surrounded by a team of skilled surgeons and medical professionals who were about to embark on Jen’s live saving surgery. The hours ticked by slowly for those waiting, each moment heavy with the hope that this would be the breakthrough Jen so desperately needed.
The surgery, which started late that Sunday afternoon, continued through the night. It wasn’t until 1 a.m. on Monday, August 19th, that the operation was finally completed. The transplant team had worked tirelessly to ensure the new lungs were successfully placed, and now, all anyone could do was wait and hope for Jen’s body to accept the life-saving organs.
The journey of these lungs—from the initial offer to their arrival by helicopter at NYU Langone—symbolizes more than just a medical procedure; it’s a story of hope, resilience, and the incredible impact that one family’s selfless decision can have on another. For Jen, this marks the beginning of a new chapter, one filled with the possibility of a future she has fought so hard to secure.
As Jen rests and recovers, her family, friends, and supporters continue to rally around her, knowing that this victory, while monumental, is just the beginning of her road to recovery. The story of how those lungs arrived at NYU Langone is a testament to the power of community, the advancements of modern medicine, and the unwavering strength of a young woman determined to live her life to the fullest.