The vast majority of individuals don’t give any thought to the act of breathing; it just comes naturally to them. The day that Jennifer Jones, whose every breath had been accompanied by horrific anguish, was finally able to breathe properly without the assistance of a respirator was one that she would never forget.
Jennifer, who is now 40 years old, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis eleven years ago. Even the simplest act of breathing became excruciatingly difficult for Jennifer as her health deteriorated. This was due to the fact that her lungs started to lose their capacity and their effectiveness.
In June of the previous year, she began the process of finding a lung transplant donor. By the month of October, her lung function had dropped to 10.8%, making it necessary for her to use a respirator to help her breathe.
After Jennifer had a successful lung transplant operation, her fiance Robert Ronnenberg, 38, took the courageous choice to record the emotional moment when she was testing out her new set of lungs for the first time. Jennifer was finally able to breathe easily for the first time in a very long time. She hadn’t been able to do so for a very long time.
Jennifer can still clearly recall the moment shortly after her procedure when she said, “For so long I have not been able to breathe like that.”
She said, “At first, I was terrified, but then I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, I can breathe!’” It was overwhelming, yet despite that, I am still able to breathe, and I am still taking in all of this air. It was unbelievable.
Jennifer’s amazing recovery was in no little part due to the altruistic act of an unknown donor who provided her with the lungs that she needed.
In honor of National Donor Day, she also offers a one-of-a-kind note to the donor family.
“If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be in this room right now. It is not about me; it is about them, and the fact that I am able to experience it now ensures that their legacy will go on. This is a one-of-a-kind accomplishment of which I am very pleased, and I consider these lungs and this gift to be nearly as precious as a kid, and I will do all in my power to protect them. But the miracle was mine, not theirs to pass forward.
After some time, Rob uploaded a video on YouTube showing Jennifer taking her first breath after being unrestricted, and the clip has already acquired more than 30 million views. Additional donor families who saw the video and left comments for them also gave some heartfelt feedback.
Rob claims that after seeing the film online, one lady reached out to them with some feedback. According to Rob, “She has one less nephew.” “You know, we got the card from the family who got the organs, and that was nice, but nothing moved me or gave me that sense of closure and really what it means to be an organ donor and recipient like watching this video and seeing her face and knowing that she gets to live and seeing that impact,’ she said. “You know, we got the card from the family who got the organs, and that was nice. But nothing gave me that sense of closure and really what it means to be an organ donor and recipient like watching That is the primary concentration here.
Rob and Jennifer felt an immense sense of gratitude for the transplant, and they had high hopes that their movie would help raise awareness about the life-changing potential of organ donation.
Watch as Jennifer takes her first breaths with her new lungs for the very first time in this moment that will take your breath away:
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