Love, Life, & Sacrifice
Terri Pilawa’s Transplant Journey
In August 2009, Terri married her best friend to start a life and future with the man she loved. She was struggling with shortness of breath, and this was scary for her. This is where her long journey of love, life, and sacrifice began.
In 2010, her shortness of breath worsened. Terri went to her PCP and was given an inhalant and prednisone for a diagnosis of asthma. Terri was trying to live her life, continuing work, exercising, and attending a dance class.
In June 2012, Terri was living in Las Vegas, Nevada, and went to a specialist after many hospital visits and 911 calls. She was diagnosed with NSIP (Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia) Pulmonary Fibrosis after an open lung biopsy. Terri’s condition took a turn for the worse; she was hospitalized with a severe lung infection called MAC (Mycobacterium Avium Complex). Terri was placed on oxygen 24/7 and on immune suppressant medications. She was told that she had five years of life to live and would now need a lifesaving double lung transplant. Terri was sent to UCLA for treatment since there’s no lung transplant center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 2013, Terri left her newlywed husband and young son and moved to California to be with her family, who would care for her as she was in a hospital bed and a wheelchair. This disease was taking Terri’s breath away. Her life had changed; she no longer worked, she quit dancing, and she couldn’t do much exercise or move without having coughing spasm episodes.
In 2014, Terri was transferred to USC Keck Medical for evaluation for a transplant. Terri kept her faith and was very hopeful. She was hospitalized because she needed oxygen support, up to 80 liters on the high-flow machine. She was also given an underlying diagnosis of Pulmonary Hypertension.
In April 2019, Terri was privileged to meet her donor family during Donate Life Month. She met her donor’s Mom and Dad; she found out her donor was a 22-year-old young woman named Maria Berfalia Quinteros. Terri will continue to share her story in honor of her donor, Maria, who said “Yes” to organ donation, and for saving her life.
On January 1, 2020, Terri’s dream came true. She was elected to be a rider on the Tournament of Roses Parade Donate Life Float. She took the 5-mile ride of her life holding a picture of her donor, Maria, and Howl the Owl plush, spreading the message about Donate Life! Helping others with Love.
On November 18, 2020, Terri needed a nose reconstruction due to chronic use of prednisone which had damaged her nose cartilage. She signed a document for donor tissue just in case she needed it. When Terri woke up, she had a new nose, and her doctor told her that he used donor tissue to recreate a beautiful nose. Terri again is grateful for her tissue donor and will write a letter to her donor family to thank them for their gift, which enhanced her life. Now Terri breathes freely without wheezing.
Terri is living her BEST TRANSPLANT LIFE!
On October 14, 2014, Terri was placed on the double lung transplant list with UNOS. Terri waited 8 long months, some of that time in hospice. She received “the call” when she was already in the hospital at USC Keck Medical; she was very sick, and her husband was with her. Terri answered her cell phone, and her surgeon told her that her wait was over and she had lungs for her. Terri needed to give consent because they were high-risk lungs. Because Terri was very sick, she gave her permission. Dr. Hackmann told her to get prepared and to tell her family that she’d be in surgery in a couple of hours. Terri was joyful, but her heart ached for her donor and the donor’s family.
On June 24, 2015, at 3:00 am, Terri was in surgery a week after her birthday, and was given a second chance at life. Terri had a rough recovery but is very grateful and full of life; she breathes freely due to her donor. She honors her donor with every step she takes. With her new lungs, she can travel with her husband, attend concerts, go to the movies, attend family parties, and spend time with family and friends.
Terri has found her purpose and pays it forward with love, inspiration, and hope. She is a proud One Legacy Ambassador, Nevada Donor Network Advocate, UNOS Ambassador, Howl the Owl Ambassador, and CEO of One Breath Foundation. She spends her time speaking at functions and educating communities on organ, eye, and tissue donation. She has monthly support group meetings with One Breath Foundation members to educate, inform, and share her journey about lung diseases.
