A canine instructor had no signs. A scan of his lungs discovered a terminal illness by means of NewsFlicks

When Christopher Kennedy went to have an X-ray ahead of a regimen surgical procedure, he concept he can be out and in. Then a technician noticed scarring in his lungs. 

Kennedy, 68 on the time, had by no means spotted any caution indicators. He used to be a retired Air Pressure technician who exercised ceaselessly and spent his time landscaping his yard and coaching Bernese Mountain canine to be hospital treatment animals. 

After a number of exams, a pulmonologist gave him an alarming analysis: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF. It is a kind of lung illness with out a recognized purpose the place scar tissue grows within the lungs and forestalls oxygen from attaining the bloodstream, consistent with Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, a scientific spokesperson for the American Lung Affiliation and pulmonologist at Johns Hopkins, who used to be now not interested by Kennedy’s care. The situation is innovative with a “top mortality price,” Galiatsatos mentioned. 

In the beginning, Kennedy concept he may just “beat” the illness. However as his lung serve as degraded, he learned that used to be “baloney.” Medicines supposed to gradual the innovative fibrosis were not running, and he used to be beginning to want oxygen in his day by day lifestyles. Even strolling to the kitchen used to be leaving him winded. In 2024, Cleveland Hospital pulmonologist Dr. Aman Pande showed Kennedy’s worst worry: He had not up to a 12 months to are living.

“All of us marvel, as human beings, how we are going to pass,” Kennedy mentioned. “And also you by no means know. It is a nice thriller. Smartly, for the primary time in my lifestyles, I used to be informed ‘That is how you’ll pass.'” 

“You return out one in every of two tactics”    

Pande did have one choice for Kennedy: They might see if he used to be eligible for a double-lung transplant. Kennedy, at 74, used to be older than maximum sufferers who go through the operation, however he used to be differently a promising candidate, Pande mentioned. Lung transplants are generally the overall choice introduced to IPF sufferers, Pande mentioned, and are generally healing, although a small proportion of sufferers can see the situation recur. 

Kennedy used to be first of all immune to the theory, as a result of his more youthful brother had died after the similar process. However after extra convincing from Pande, he agreed to go through trying out to peer if he can be eligible. Cleveland Hospital medical doctors “scoured the whole lot,” Kennedy mentioned. After all, he used to be authorized as a candidate. He used to be registered at the nationwide transplant checklist, and waited for a couple of appropriate lungs to transform to be had. 

Because the months handed, Kennedy’s lung serve as endured to degrade. He went from the usage of two liters of oxygen an afternoon to ten. He had a light case of COVID-19. He misplaced greater than 40 kilos. In October 2025, he used to be admitted to the clinic. 

“Dr. (Jason) Turkowski, (a transplant pulmonologist at Cleveland Hospital) mentioned ‘OK, we are going to admit you and you come back out one in every of two tactics: With a suite of lungs, or we are going to raise you out,'” Kennedy recalled. 

“You are reminded each and every breath issues” 

Kennedy spent a month within the clinic. There have been two false alarms, the place it appeared {that a} pair of lungs could be to be had however in the end weren’t. The 3rd time used to be the appeal, and on Nov. 15, Kennedy underwent a double-lung transplant. 

“It used to be a aid. I used to be fearful, clearly, and concerned. I will be able to consider going into the running room,” Kennedy mentioned. “I will be able to consider the flurry of job, the entire those who had been in there getting me able for the surgical procedure. Subsequent factor you understand, you are for your room.” 

Simply hours after the surgical procedure, Kennedy’s lung capability used to be already higher than it were in months. He had a number of setbacks, together with a post-surgery an infection and a stroke, however his “indomitable spirit” has helped him recuperate, mentioned pulmonologist Rachel Powers, who has been a part of Kennedy’s post-transplant care crew.  

“I am very happy with him. He in point of fact has stored an excellent viewpoint of his process restoration,” Powers mentioned. “He is stored this sort of excellent outlook, and I feel that is been in point of fact vital for one of the most issues that he is had to conquer after transplant.” 

For Kennedy, now 75, lifestyles is now starting to really feel commonplace once more. Exams display that his lung capability is at 98%. He’s again to spending time along with his spouse, youngsters and grandkids. He is in a position to workout at house and used to be just lately in a position to take his canine for a stroll with out dropping his breath. He is virtually achieved coaching the dog, a Bernese Mountain canine named Fini, to be a hospital treatment canine. 

Kennedy had believed Fini will be the ultimate remedy canine he educated, and named him after the retirement flights performed by means of Air Pressure individuals. However in a couple of weeks, he will be getting a brand new pet. He plans to call her Encore to have fun his personal 2d likelihood. Coaching hospital treatment canine has transform much more significant after his personal scientific adventure, he mentioned. 

“There may be a large number of issues which can be other in my lifestyles. It will provide you with nice viewpoint and share of lifestyles, of what is vital and what is not,” Kennedy mentioned. “You’re taking each and every breath with no consideration, as a result of, you understand, why would you now not? However once they transform compromised, you are reminded each and every breath issues. It assists in keeping you targeted.”