UW’s first double lung transplant OK after 20

SEATTLE — The first person to get a double lung transplant at the University of Washington is still breathing strong 20 years later.

KOMO-TV reported that Ken Price was living with cystic fibrosis since he was 1 year old. He was the first cystic fibrosis patient at the University of Washington Medical Center to receive a double lung transplant.

In the 20 years since then, Price and his lungs have won tennis tournaments, rode his bike from Seattle to Portland eight times and run a marathon.

Lungs are one of the most difficult organs to transplant. Only about one in five from deceased donors is viable for transplantation. About 55 percent of patients survive five years post-transplant and a third live 10 years.

———

Information from: KOMO-TV, http://www.komotv.com/