Rima Manomaitis

I was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects the lungs. Over time, my condition progressed to end-stage lung disease, and I ultimately needed a double lung transplant.

I relocated to Minneapolis for care at the University of Minnesota and spent eight months on the transplant list, including two “dry runs,” before receiving my transplant in May 2017.

In September 2024, I began to show signs of rejection. Initially, my care team suspected DSA antibody-mediated rejection, but it was ultimately diagnosed as chronic rejection. Over the following months, my health declined rapidly, and it became clear that I would need a second transplant.

I traveled to Duke University in North Carolina, where I received my second double lung transplant on March 24, 2025.