Storyteller: Luke Maeding
Extraordinary Circumstance: Double Lung Transplant (due to Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease) and Chronic Intestinal Pseudoobstruction
Book: Gaming for Wings
His story: click here.
LUKE MAEDING was born 3 1/2 months early and has bravely overcome many medical challenges since that day. He went on to be diagnosed with Childhood Interstitial and Diffuse Lung Disease: his lungs failed to mature and remained very simple, like an infant’s lungs. As the years went on, Luke literally outgrew his lungs, and they could no longer support his body. At 9 years old, Luke received the gift of life through a double lung transplant on August 14, 2010, at Children’s Hospital Pittsburgh. Luke also struggles with Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction, which means that for prolonged periods of time, he is unable to eat and requires IV nutrition. Though statistics say Luke should not be here today, he is now 16 years old and walks 3 miles a day. Organ donation has not only saved Luke’s life, but has allowed him to live life. Luke’s pediatrician, Dr Costello, and everyone who has cared for him at Children’s Hospital Pittsburgh (especially Dr. Kurland and Dr. Spahr) also plays a huge part in him being here today. Luke plays Miracle League baseball, is a member of a Boy Scout Troop, and enjoys taking acting classes and acting in productions at Pennsylvania Youth Theater. Though Luke has had some extraordinary experiences, above all, he longs to be “just a regular kid.”