Sister Receives Parts of Two Brothers’ Lungs

Cyndee Spurling of Phoenix might not have made it to Christmas this year if not for a gift from two of her brothers. Spurling, who hovered near death this week because of pulmonary fibrosis, received transplanted lungs Thursday from her brothers, Samuel and Gilbert at USC University Hospital.

Vaughn Starnes, the doctor who performed the operation, said Spurling would probably have died within a few days without the surgery. “It is was truly the gift of life” said Starnes, who is chairman of cardiothoracic surgery at USC Medical School and University Hospital.

Spurling, 41, had the lung disease for three years, Starnes said. Despite her condition, she was vigorous enough to work full time for a temporary employment agency until her condition worsened in November.

“It went downhill then,” said Karen Wilson-Cobb, 36, Spurling’s sister. Spurling entered a Phoenix hospital last Friday, and on Sunday doctors decided to try a transplant, said Wilson-Cobb.

Wilson-Cobb said that once the family knew their sister was in need, all four brothers joined her and their mother to offer parts of their lungs. After the family members were tested, Samuel, 37, and Gilbert, 29, were determined to be the best donors.

The three siblings remained in the hospital Thursday morning after the operation. Starnes said that Spurling should be well enough to return to her job in a few months and that her brothers will lose about 20% of their lung capacity, which he said is not enough to be noticed.