Meet Maggie

Where are they now?
Catching up with Maggie one year later.

In November of 2022, Maggie became very sick with influenza A coupled with pneumonia. Though influenza can be common during the holiday season, Maggie’s case quickly became uncommon as it progressed in severity. Due to significant damage to her lungs, Maggie entered respiratory failure. When it became clear to her doctors that Maggie’s lungs were not going to recover, they reached out to Nationwide Children's Hospital, one of the few places in the world that offers lung transplantation for children.

Two months after arriving at Nationwide Children’s, Maggie learned that she would receive new lungs. After a long recovery process taken at Maggie’s pace, she was finally ready go home.

Since then, Maggie has been doing great. Her check-ups and labs have reduced in frequency, she’s excelling in school, even taking some college classes this year. She has even been able to return to marching band, where she plays the clarinet.

In December of last year, Maggie became very sick with influenza A. Though influenza can be common during the holiday season, Maggie’s case quickly became uncommon as it progressed in severity. Causing significant damage to her lungs, Maggie entered respiratory failure and was treated with a host of available therapies to help her lungs recover, including multiple forms of ventilation and antibiotics. Unfortunately, none of the strategies doctors tried seemed to be working and she continued to get worse.

When it became clear to her doctors that Maggie’s lungs were not going to recover, they reached out to Nationwide Children's Hospital, one of the few places in the world that is able to offer life-saving lung transplantation to children.

“Maggie was thought to be at very high risk of death without lifesaving lung transplantation,” shares Dr. Stephen Kirkby, medical director of the lung transplant program l at Nationwide Children's. “Her team reached out to us, and we were glad to be able to bring her to Nationwide Children's to be evaluated for a lung transplant.”

Once at Nationwide Children's, Maggie’s future was still uncertain. She was entirely dependent on an ECMO machine, a way of oxygenating the blood and removing carbon dioxide, for many weeks awaiting a donor match.

Two months after arriving at Nationwide Children’s, Maggie received news that she would be the recipient of two new lungs. After a successful surgery, Maggie was on the road to recovery. Although that road was not an easy one. “Maggie was sick enough for months waiting for transplant that we knew it was going to take a long time for her to regain strength and nutrition,” recalls Dr. Kirkby.

After a long recovery process, taken at Maggie’s pace, she was finally ready to go this summer. “When I first got home, there were a lot of obstacles I didn't know I'd have to experience,” Maggie remembers. “The lack of strength I had when I first got home was really difficult to work around. But now I can do everything I want to with only minimal help. I'm so grateful for the physical therapy and occupational therapy that I've taken. It's just helped me get back into life.”

As for her organ donation, “It's the most selfless gift you could ever give anyone,” says Maggie. “You can save someone's life so they can live out their dreams and that is truly amazing.”

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