Woman dies after receiving double lung transplant

PITTSBURGH — An Ashland family is mourning the loss of their daughter after she finally received a lung transplant.

Caitlin O’Hara was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of 2, a disease which primarily affects the lungs. At age 33, she needed a lung transplant. She had been on the transplant list since April 2014.

She was on life support last week, as the search for a donor continued and time started running out. On Sunday, a donor with lungs the perfect size was found, and Caitlin had the double lung transplant. 

Sadly, on Tuesday, her health declined very rapidly and she passed away. She was being treated at a Pittsburgh hospital because Boston doctors said her condition was too risky for them to treat.

Her parents are outspoken critics of the transplant program and in their blog post wrote,"If she had received these perfect lungs earlier, all would be different. She should never have ended up on life support with the score she had."

In memory of Caitlin, the family has asked people to consider becoming an organ donor.

Cox Media Group