Sarah Murnaghan Gets Transplant, Recovers After Surgery

Donor lungs were found for Sarah Murnaghan, the 10-year-old who has end-stage Cystic Fibrosis and fought to be placed on the adult transplant list.

"The surgeons had no challenges resizing and transplanting the donor lungs—the surgery went smoothly and Sarah did extremely well," Janet Murnaghan, Sarah's mother, posted on Facebook later Wednesday.

Sarah received her transplant Wednesday at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

The transplant was "very, very successful," Sarah's aunt Sharin Ruddock told the media in a press conference Wednesday evening.

She was prepped for surgery around 11 a.m., received her adult donor lungs and the procedure lasted about six hours, according to Janet Murnaghan.

Sarah is settling in to the recovery unit at CHOP, according to Janet Murnaghan, and her long road to recovery begins.

Janet Murnaghan thanked Sarah's surgical doctor, her team of doctors and nurses along with all of her supporters. But most importantly, Janet Murnaghan thanked Sarah's organ donor.

"An organ donor has made this possible for her. We are elated this day has come, but we also know our good news is another family’s tragedy. That family made the decision to give Sarah the gift of life—and they are the true heroes today," Janet Murnaghan posted on Facebook.

Sarah has been on both the adult and pediatric lung transplant list for months however because of her age and organ transplant policy, she would only receive adult donor lungs after all adult candidates, regardless of how sick they are, had the opportunity to accept them.

Last week, a federal judge ruled that Sarah could be temporarily added to the adult list, regardless of her age, for a lung transplant after her parents filed suit.

Janet Murnaghan posted on Facebook that the family was overwhelmed with emotions after receiving news that a donor was available.

"God is great! He moved the mountain! Sarah got THE CALL. She will be taken back to the OR in 30min. Please pray for Sarah's donor, her HERO, who has given her the gift of life. Today their family has experienced a tremendous loss, may God grant them a peace that surpasses understanding. Please pray for Sarah and her surgical team and our whole family! We are overwhelmed with emotions!!!! Thank you to all of you for the unending support. Xoxoxo!! God bless! Today is the start of Sarah's new beginning and new life," Janet Murnaghan posted on the Save Sarah Murnaghan Facebook page.

The St. Davids Episcopal Church in Wayne, where Sarah is a parishioner, issued a statement saying the church community will continue to offer prayers and support to Sarah and her family.

U.S. Senator Pat Toomey said in a press release that he was grateful to the organ donor's family.

“Now that a suitable donor has been found, a prayer would help, too - a prayer Sarah's body accepts the new organ the way doctors believe it can. The judge gave Sarah a chance to receive a new lung.  Now the surgical team at CHOP is giving her a chance at life," Toomey said in a statement.

Rep. Patrick Meehan also released a statement.

“I’m delighted to hear that Sarah will receive the life-saving lung transplant that she so desperately needs. She is one of the most courageous fighters I’ve ever seen, and she has an army of support behind her as she undergoes this very difficult surgery. I send my thoughts and prayers to her, her family, and the talented doctors and staff at CHOP that are caring for her," Meehan said in a statement.

See More on Patch:

• Transplant Board Reviews Policy
• Sarah Murnaghan Added to Adult Transplant List
• 'Today Show' Highlights Sarah Murnaghan
• Prayer Vigil Friday for Sarah Murnaghan
• Mother Pleads for Direct Organ Donation to Save Daughter
• Review of Organ Donation Policy Sought
• Help Newtown Square Girl Get Life-Saving Transplant