‘She just bounces right back’
Annapolis Valley lung transplant survivor still fighting to breathe easy
It breaks Koren Davidson’s heart to see her twin back in a hospital bed following a double lung transplant in September.
“It’s very scary,” she said. Her sister, North Kentville resident Karen Spencer, rang in 2021 with a new set of lungs helping her 54-year-old body breathe easy for the first time in a long time.
She was getting around without an oxygen tank in tow, exercising regularly and dreaming of returning to the workforce.
But her road to recovery is winding.
Spencer first spotted signs of some unexpected twists and turns about four weeks ago.
“She started to deteriorate a lot and we couldn’t understand it,” said Davidson, describing the period as “mind-boggling.”
Doctors determined that Spencer’s weakened state was caused by an infection and excess fluids in the lungs. The best course of action was to undergo surgery in Halifax.
“It felt like we were back at square one again,” said Davidson.
“The doctor told her that if she didn’t have the surgery, she wouldn’t be here this summer.”
Her right lung was operated on Feb. 15, and the surgery for the left lung was pencilled in for a week later.
“She was scared to death but yesterday she was happy,” said Davidson in a phone interview on Feb. 16.
“She’s in high spirits. She just shocks me… She just bounces right back.”
Davidson accompanied Spencer to Toronto for six months last year to be by her best friend’s side throughout the intensive transplant process.
“I feel bad because she’s so sick and I don’t understand how she’s so sick and I have to be the healthy one. I just feel guilty,” she said.
“If I could change places or take some of that away from her, in a heartbeat I would.”
It is anticipated that Spencer will spend a few more weeks in hospital as her body recovers from the recent surgeries addressing complications that arose from the infection.
“It was making her heart work overtime, so now her heart is only working at 35 per cent but they can build that back up with medication,” said Davidson.
Spencer draws strength from her faith as she works to reclaim her independence.
“She’d love prayers sent to her,” Davidson said.
Financial donations to assist with medications that won’t be covered by insurance and transportation costs can be submitted through an online GoFundMe campaign called “Operation Breathe Easy (Karen Spencer).
Spencer has found strength in the well wishes offered by countless supporters throughout her lung transplant journey. Davidson said her sister is thankful to every single person who has reached out in some way.
“She wants everybody to know that’s she not going anywhere, that she’s going to come back stronger and better and reach for her goals,” she said.
“She’s proved she’s a fighter… she’s a very strong woman.”