Timothy Sweeney, Double Lung Transplant Recipient
This November, Joshua R. Sonett, MD, Surgical Director of the Lung Transplant Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, will join patient Timothy Sweeney in running the NYC marathon. Timothy has cystic fibrosis and received a double lung transplant less than a year ago.
As a child, Timothy had always enjoyed biking, swimming, and running with his father. Keeping in great shape helped him stay healthy despite his cystic fibrosis, but he was just having fun. As an adult, he continued to exercise not only for fun but to remain strong in the face of his disease, and that grew into his vocation as a personal trainer. But when he developed pneumonia in both lungs, his lung function declined severely. Dr. Sonett performed his double lung transplant November 10, 2009.
Joshua R. Sonett, MD
When Timothy awoke in the Intensive Care Unit at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, he and Dr. Sonett began chatting about the marathon that Dr. Sonett had run that week. Dr. Sonett offhandedly suggested to Tim that they run it together next year, and Timothy said he’d love to. It was just a casual comment, but “I really wanted to be able to do it,” says Tim. A seed was planted, and after that day, Timothy couldn’t get the idea out of his mind.
Tim returned home just six days after transplantation. The next day, he began walking on his treadmill in his socks and pajamas. “It was very slow going at first,” says Tim. He persisted, doing what he could, and gradually built up his strength and endurance. As his ability increased, he had to begin wearing sneakers, he recalls. Then shorts. By January, he began jogging.
When Tim called Dr. Sonett in September 2010 to let him know he had run a half marathon, Dr. Sonett was more than a bit surprised. A veteran of four New York marathons, Dr. Sonett had been considering skipping it this year because of persistent foot problems. But with Tim ready to take up the challenge, he couldn’t refuse.
Timothy Sweeney in Marathon
Together, Dr. Sonett and Timothy are running in support of goals that are close to their hearts:
- raising funds to benefit the Covenant House, a non-profit organization that helps homeless teenagers in New York;
- raising awareness about organ donation, because there is a critical shortage of donor organs in New York;
- raising awareness about cystic fibrosis.
A dedicated supporter of the Covenant House, Dr. Sonett explains, “The Covenant House gives homeless teens a second chance at life through a home, jobs, and more. This organization does fabulous work and deserves our strong support. In the same way, Tim’s lung transplant gave him a second chance at life. Without that transplant, he likely would have had just weeks to live. We need to increase awareness of organ donation so that more people will be encouraged to make gifts of organs. This is good for patients and good for the donor family, who can take solace in knowing they are helping someone else to live.”
Related Link:
Allan Stewart, MD and Patient Compete in New York City Triathlon
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This family is having to move due to the economic times as they are upside down in their mortgage. While with all the efforts and donations they were able to keep all in tact as their realtor now we are selling their home in a short sale. In the meantime moving, putting up the security and new deposits for a new healty environment for Tim and his wife to live in has exhausted them of funds for Christmas and seeing his wife’s family for the first time in 4 years he is safe to travel if anyone wants to contribute to this cause please contact me at teresa.bennett@snet.net this family continues to have hope but as alot of americans right now the economy has been unforgiving.