Our Stories

For Raymond, the role of husband quickly became that of advocate and anchor. He attended every round, asked difficult questions and made sure Rebecca’s voice was heard when she couldn’t speak for herself. He focused on the details others might overlook, like playing her favorite music, bringing reminders of home into her hospital room and encouraging her through grueling rehabilitation sessions. He called himself her “cornerman,” determined to help her rebuild both physically and emotionally so she could be listed for transplant.

Dr. Joseph, part of Rebecca’s care team, saw firsthand how critical that support was. Transplant medicine requires more than surgical expertise; it demands a committed support system to help patients endure the physical and emotional strain of recovery. From his perspective, Raymond’s steady presence was not just comforting — it was essential. A strong caregiver can mean the difference between simply surviving a procedure and truly recovering from it.

Rebecca ultimately received the transplant that saved her life, but her journey underscores a broader truth. Behind every successful transplant is a strong support team which includes clinicians who bring expertise and compassion, and loved ones who bring relentless advocacy and hope.

Through Raymond’s devotion and Dr. Joseph’s care, Rebecca’s story becomes not only one of medical innovation, but of partnership — a reminder that healing is strongest when science and steadfast support work hand in hand.

Rebecca Poole was only eight months old when she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that causes damage to the lungs, digestive system and other organs in the body over time. Despite her diagnosis, she grew up having a normal childhood, riding horses and running cross country, then going off to college, getting married and landing a job she loved.  

Then in 2014, her lung function began to decline sharply. She entered the hospital on New Year’s Eve for what she and her husband, Raymond, thought would be a “tune up” – a round of antibiotics to help ease her breathing. But, what followed was a six-month ordeal that tested her resilience in every way imaginable.

Struggling to breathe, Rebecca was intubated and woke from a coma six weeks later, her body weak and her lungs reliant on a machine to breathe. It quickly became clear that her only chance for survival was a double lung transplant — if she could regain enough strength for a transplant hospital to accept her.

After more than four months, they finally heard back from University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who agreed to evaluate her. And just weeks after arriving, the call everyone waited for came – thanks to a generous donor, Rebecca had a new set of lungs and a new chance at life.

But her transplant journey wasn’t over. Nearly a decade later, she faced another challenge — her kidneys were failing. But this time, her hero was closer to home.