Vicky Keene
Received lung transplant in Pittsburgh, PA

After years of working in a coal mine, Vicky Keene went from walking 5 miles a day to having difficulty breathing to complete the simplest of tasks. Diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the disease had taken over Vicky’s life and left her on the sideline for many important milestones with her beloved grandchildren. She was added to the transplant waiting list in 2018 to receive a double-lung transplant.

Reflecting on her time on the transplant waiting list, Vicky recalls, “In 2013, my granddaughter, who I have helped my son raise since she was 8 years old, was appointed Homecoming Attendant and I proudly walked her onto the field. But in 2014, when she was appointed Homecoming Queen for her high school as a senior, I could not walk her out on the field. They had to ride me out so I could see her.”

Thanks to the generosity of a donor, Vicky received her transplant in the summer of 2020 and has been given the gift of more time with her family to share many more milestones.

“Always be an organ donor, because you never know when you or one of your family members are going to need an organ.”