EYAGER, WV (WVVA) – Dawn Robinette, a wife and mother to a 12-year-old son, is a McDowell County native who has struggled with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for many years.
On the morning of June 10, Robinette woke up feeling exhausted.
As she was being transferred from Princeton, West Virginia, to Charlottesville, Virginia, doctors told her she would not only need a double lung transplant, but also a heart transplant.
Our sister station WWBT reports that according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, receiving a double organ transplant is extremely rare: out of 40,000 organ transplants last year, only 388 were double transplants.
Most people spend months or even years on donor lists waiting for a second chance, but in Robinette's case there was an inexplicable intervention.
Robinette was only able to wait two weeks due to a tragic car accident that took her donor's life.
Family members say it was the start of the 42-year-old's road to recovery.
“Well, obviously it's been really hard on the whole family. This is a prayer warren so we've had a lot of pastors and people praying and we're just thankful that God reached out and saw life in this young woman and we're really blessed for her,” Jacqueline Bishop said.
Her transplant surgery has been going well, except for a recent complication of fluid building up in her lungs.
Her sister-in-law and her church organized a hot dog and baked goods sale to help cover the massive medical bills, which have piled up to more than $1 million even after insurance payments were made.
She said through prayer, the community believes Robinette will receive a miracle.
“Our community has just come together and shown love and support to him and his family and just trying to help in any way we can. She's doing amazingly well. Now she's starting to have some complications but like I said, we're just praying for the best,” Donna Robinette Pruitt said.
If you would like to help, In honor of Dawn Robinette, please donate to the Mid-Atlantic Transplant Fund at helphopelive.org
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