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June 3rd, 2013
08:47 AM ET

10-year-old girl denied lung transplant – CNN's Susan Candiotti reports

10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan of Pennsylvannia has end-stage Cystic Fibrosis. She may only have a few weeks to live and desperately needs a lung transplant. Due to her age, federal guidelines prevent her from recieving a transplant.

Read more: Family of girl desperate for transplant says she can't wait for policy to change
Filed under: Cystic Fibrosis • Medical
soundoff (4 Responses)
  1. Michele Maki

    Can I donate one of my lungs? This story is breaking my heart! I have two healthy lobes. Maybe we can save her?
    If this is possible, please contact me.

    June 3, 2013 at 7:34 pm | Reply
  2. Teresa Merritt

    My heart breaks for this little girl and her family. I do know what it is like to watch a family member wait for a lung so life can be extended. I had 2 siblings that had pulmonary fibrosis, one of whom went through the evaluation process for transplant. Unfortunately neither survived the disease.
    I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema in June 2011 and went through the transplant evaluation process and was blessed to receive a lung 6 months ago.
    One of the things that our family learned, which I have not heard mentioned in any media coverage of this very sad story is the fact that size is a very important factor in the matching process; an adult lung could be donated to this child but if her chest cavity is too small, or too large, the lung will be of no help to her.
    I commend CNN for bringing this story to the public's attention and as a 'news' media I believe CNN is being irresponsible by not presenting ALL the FACTS.

    June 3, 2013 at 1:56 pm | Reply
  3. Harry Kelton

    If SIZE of the adult lung is the REAL criterion, (as compared to the SIZE of the child's lung), why are the transplant rules based on AGE instead of the SIZE of the child ?

    June 3, 2013 at 11:26 am | Reply

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