East Orange Woman ‘Forever Thankful’ After Lung Transplant In Newark

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — For Christine Williams, “every day is a blessing from God.”

That’s what Williams, 61, has to say seven years after her successful double-lung transplant at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Since then, the East Orange native has gotten a chance to reflect on her fortune with her loved ones and friends, including five children, nine grandchildren and a great-grandson.

It has been a hard-fought milestone, according to the NJ Sharing Network, which shared some background about Williams:

“Christine was born and raised in East Orange, the nineth of 10 children in her loving home. Her parents, Doris and Bill, were active in the U.S. army throughout her childhood. Doris was a 2nd lieutenant serving stateside, and Bill was a private stationed in Okinawa. Christine has fond memories of being the largest family at Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament in East Orange, her love for music and playing classical piano, and her years at Saint Vincent Academy in Newark.”

In 2009, Williams was hospitalized with pneumonia twice. Testing showed scarring on her lungs, and she was eventually diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

“They told me there was no cure and that life expectance with IPF was about one to three years,” she recalled. “I remember thinking, ‘Well, this may be it.’ However, I had the support of my family and I kept hold of my faith.”

Inspired to focus on her health and aided by daily exercise, Williams lost more than 30 pounds and returned to work. However, in 2013, her condition worsened and she was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. She travelled for procedures and treatments at some of the leading medical institutions in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania before being added to the transplant list at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in August 2015.

The day she got a call about her transplant is one she’ll always remember, Williams said:

“On January 3, 2016, I was getting ready to go to church. I always joked that my car was like a ‘bomb on wheels’ because I had to carry my oxygen tanks along with me everywhere I went. My son Darrell received the voicemail. I remember turning to my daughter Gabrielle and saying, ‘Oh wow, this is really happening.’ I only waited for four hours, and I was wheeled in for the surgery. It was a very spiritual experience for me. I saw light, and I felt like I was being carried by angels. I knew in my heart that I was going to be OK – I was never so confident in my life.”

When it was all over, Williams knew a major hurdle had been overcome, but also realized there was a difficult challenge ahead.

“I anticipated staying in the hospital for a month, but I was home in nine days,” she said. “The physical recovery was grueling, but the mental and emotional challenges were even tougher.”

Williams said she wasn’t prepared for the range of feelings she had, including depression and survivor’s guilt.

“Now, I tell people waiting for transplant to be sure to connect with others to ensure you have that emotional support every step of the way,” Williams said.

These days, Williams is retired and doing all she can to give back to others by volunteering with NJ Sharing Network and the Garden State Pulmonary Fibrosis Group. She also hopes that she will be able to personally connect with her donor family at some point in the future.

“I feel like every day is a blessing from God,” she said. “I am forever thankful to my organ donor and their family for giving me the gift of life. Because of them, I have been able to enjoy more time with my family and I am inspired to give back to others.”

There are more than 100,000 Americans – nearly 4,000 of whom live in New Jersey – waiting for a life-saving transplant, according to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). However, the generosity of those in the Garden State is providing hope for the future.

In 2022, the number of organ donors (283) and organs transplanted (670) in a single year reached all-time highs, according to the NJ Sharing Network, which noted that it marked the fourth consecutive year it has reported new records in the number of organ donors.

To learn more, get involved and register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

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