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CLEVELAND – Many of us are searching for the perfect gift this holiday season but Robert Fealy, 60, of Hilliard, Ohio, is already covered.
Due to a genetic disease, called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, Fealy’s lungs and liver failed and he received what his family calls his ‘greatest gift’ – a rare multi-organ transplant.
“He had what we call a dual organ transplant. He received a double lung and a liver at the same time from the same donor,” said Marie Budev, D.O., M.P.H., Medical Director of Cleveland Clinic’s lung transplant program. “This is a very difficult transplant to do because you have to get the organs, again, from the same donor.”
After a 12 hour operation, Fealy woke up with new organs and a new lease on life – on a very special day.
“It was our 38th wedding anniversary,” said Jeanne Fealy. “So, you know the best gift that I could have ever gotten from anyone was the gift of life from a donor.”
It’s been a long road for the Fealy’s, Robert also recently underwent open heart surgery, but he’s doing well and looking forward to spending the holidays with family.
“To me, that’s what it’s all about,” said Fealy. “We’re going over and watching the kids open their presents, I can’t wait. I’ll be like the biggest kid there.”
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, there are more than 115,000 people waiting for lifesaving organs.
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation, Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 83,000 employees worldwide are more than 6,600 salaried physicians and researchers, and 21,900 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,725-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 300 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2025, there were 15.9 million outpatient encounters, 343,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 336,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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