LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – A Richmond man is spending this holiday season cherishing the gift of life and those who made it possible.
Steve Worrell and his wife Janice love to travel, but when health complications arose, their lives came to a standstill.
“I was leading a normal life for a retiree. I played golf a couple of times a week. I mowed my own yard and trimmed my own trees. We walked for fun, for exercise,” Worrell said.
In April 2020, Worrell’s life got flipped upside down.
“I performed a chore for a neighbor. I threw some bags of leaves into a trash truck, and it took me less than 90 seconds. But very quickly, after I threw them in there, I was having chest pains, I was short of breath, and I never felt that before in my life. That’s when I knew there was something wrong,” he said.
His doctor referred him to a pulmonologist “who referred me on for consideration for transplant.”
Diagnosis and treatment
Worrell was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
“Idiopathic meaning unknown cause, pulmonary meaning related to the lung, and fibrosis related to the disease that’s affecting my ability to take in oxygen,” he said.
For four years he was on medication that slowed down his fibrosis, but by June 2024, he desperately needed a lung transplant.
“I usually ask patients, why do you want to undergo transplant? What is your motivating factor when we meet them for the first time? Why do you want to undergo such major surgery? And the things that you have to live with post transplant. The thing that he mentioned was he wants to spend time with his family. He wants to hike with them,” said Dr. Naureen Narula, transplant clinic medical director at UK.
Narula said there are many things to consider when deciding if someone is a good candidate for a transplant.
“Every patient comes with unique challenges. But ensuring that age is one factor, sure…other significant comorbidities, making sure there is nothing else that would affect their quality of life or increase the risk of transplant surgery. Also very important is the social support,” she said.
Recovery and gratitude
Through the care of Dr. Narula and Dr. Matthias Loebe, Worrell was determined to be a good candidate and received his transplant on Sept. 18, 2024.
Through proper care and physical therapy, by June, he was able to accomplish his dream and go hiking with his family.
“He went to Jackson Hole, and there was this amazing lake,” Dr. Narula said. “He stood there early in the morning, and he took a picture.”
As a way to say thank you, he gave the picture to Dr. Narula.
“They care. They genuinely care about their patients. This isn’t just a job. They’re here to help you, and they helped me,” Worrell said.
“It was a good surprise. And I really appreciated that. It’s nice to see that he got what he wanted to do. And everyone has different reasons to get a transplant,” Dr. Narula said.
While Worrell makes the most of his new life, he and his team realize the great sacrifice of those who made it possible.
“Really, the great heroes of all this are the families who decide to donate the organs of a loved one who has died in times of great stress,” said Dr. Loebe.
“I can’t thank my donor enough for the precious gift,” said Worrell.
Worrell continues to find ways to honor his donor. He recently took part in the Second Chance at Life Golf Scramble, raising close to $8,000 to promote organ donation.
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