The eight -year -old Emily King, who has been transplanted, runs towards his brother's parka while playing in the garden at the San Ford's house. Sean Patrick Oorret/Portland Press Herald
Emily King has counted down the days and weeks when you can return to school and play football and soccer. Please participate in the cheerleading team. Learn to swim underwater.
The eight -year -old from Sunford wants to do everything this spring.
For now, her family has to control her because she has become immunodeficiency after receiving the second double pulmonary transplant in July. She was two years old, and she had a serious illness when she first got it.
However, Emily and her family are lucky to have another chance in their lives.
“She feels like myself now,” said her mother, Stephanie. “She wants to do everything. She doesn't keep her too much, but still lives every day, wondering if we will lose her. Not for a timid person. “
According to statistics provided by New England donor services, all types of organ transplantation is increasing in the main and nationwide.
In the main state, the number of transplantation recipients increased from 66 in 2019 to 88 % from 124 in 2024 to 5 years, and the largest jump in the past two years.
The number of main states that donated organs increased from 42 in 2019 to 78 in 2024.
The increase in the main state is similar to all New England. The numbers are increasing nationwide, but not so dramatic. In the United States as a whole, organ provision increased by more than 39,000 in 2019 to more than 48,000 in 2024, increasing 23 %.
Alex Gradier, president and CEO of New England donor service, states: “More people say” yes “to the donation of the organs, and more organs can be collected. “
Emily King inspects while playing with a family's house swing set. Sean Patrick Oorret/Portland Press Herald
Glazier is likely to agree to donations if a medical expert connected to the organ donor system is talking about organs with his family, or if his family dies. I said I learned.
Glazier said, because the technology has been improved, the organs are in a better condition, and that they are more likely to have a donation qualification when they die.
“In the past, it was when we recovered from the donor's body, but the organs go on ice,” Gladier said. “Now, enter the device to keep the organs longer executable.”
Nevertheless, the recipient's family knows that someone else needs to die in order for transplanting to be available, so it is waiting for someone to die. Difficult and emotional.
And the need is still far higher than the number of donors. Approximately 100,000 people take an organ -provided waiting list nationwide.
However, two lung transplants in 2019 and the latest lung transplant held on July 17 at Boston Pediatric Hospital -Emily King accepted new opportunities for life.
Her new lungs were able to live her for several years, ten years, and more than 30 years. Stephanie King said, nobody knows.
The King Family poses a photo outside the Sunford's house. The child in the front row is Parker (13 years old, Emily, 8, Chase 11). Stephanie and Justin are behind. Sean Patrick Oorret/Portland Press Herald
I had to learn that the whole family would live with uncertainty.
Emily's father, Justin King, states: “We can't ignore it, but we don't spend any time to think about it.”
While waiting for the first transplant in 2019, Emily had only a few days or a few weeks since she died of an interstitial pulmonary disease that causes inflammation and scars of the pulmonary tissue.
“We were pretty hopeless. I remember thinking I might not have a daughter on Mother's Day. We were planning her funeral,” said Stephanie King. 。 “But after that we received the phone. She was a match. At that moment, the only feeling was one of my hope.”
The king had been waiting for the second transplant of Emily for seven months after her first transplant began to fail.
Justin King said his family was “very lucky and fortunate and has the second chance.”
“I was ready to wait for the second transplant, so I was ready to wait longer,” said Justin King. “We were very lucky to get the second transplant.”
Emily King is smiling at his father Justin while playing in the garden. Sean Patrick Oorret/Portland Press Herald
Stephanie King said at first no symptoms indicating that Emily's lungs had failed, but the monitor said in October 2023 that he had “losing pulmonary function very quickly.”
“She was often out of breath, quiet and tired. She would sleep ton during the day,” said Stephanie.
In effect, it became difficult to go to school.
“I was really scared and many rocks for a while,” said Justin King. “Now we are in a really good place. I feel very comfortable.”
Emily still has to take 13 medicine every day, but she has a lot of energy.
“I have a lot of emotions and emotions I have never seen,” said Justin. “She processes all of it and keeps a very positive attitude.”
The king has died in 2019 and has been connected to a New Jersey family in Lung Donner, who has been in contact for many years. New Jersey family refused to interview.
On the other hand, Emily is focusing on returning to school and meeting friends.
“They are very nice, they warm my heart,” she said.
Emily King plays a swing with his brothers. Sean Patrick Oorret/Portland Press Herald
Her brother, Parker (13 years old) and 11 -year -old chase, said she was a good company, but they also had a typical sibling relationship.
“I like them, but they are really annoying,” said Emily, whispering and laughing.
Emily is also close to many doctors, nurses, and other medical experts who have been taking care of her for many years. She is mischievous to doctors and nurses, but wants to help others to help others, such as creating an important chain sold by fund -raising activities to support the donation of the association.
She had had a lot of complications since her second surgery, but her parents said she is now healthy and ready to challenge the world.
“It's surprising that 8 -year -olds can do it to inspire others,” said Stephanie King.
The story was updated at 10:35 am on Saturday, February 1, and has been modified Alex Glazier's name.
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