Community rallying for woman who received double lung and heart transplant

IAEGER, W.Va. (WVVA) - Dawn Robinette, a wife and a mother to a 12-year-old son, is a McDowell County native who has been battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for many years.

On the morning of June 10, Robinette woke up with no energy.

Being transferred from Princeton, West Virginia to Charlottesville, Virginia, she was told by doctors not only did she need a double lung transplant, but she was also in need of a heart as well.

Our sister station, WWBT, reports, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, receiving a double organ transplant is pretty rare. Last year, out of 40,000 organ transplants, only 388 were double transplants.

Most people sit on the donor list for months or even years waiting for a second chance, but there was an unexplainable intervention in Robinette’s case.

Robinette’s wait was just two weeks due to a tragic car accident claiming the life of her donor.

A family member says it is how the 42-year-old started her road to recovery.

“Well, it’s been really rough on all the family and stuff, you know, naturally, and we had a lot of preachers and people praying because this is a pray warring place. We just thank God that he reached out, and he seen life within this young lady. We’re just so blessed to have her,” said Jacqueline Bishop.

Her transplant has been doing well other than some recent complications with fluid in her lungs.

Her sister-in-law and her church planned a hot dog and bake sale to try and help with the large sum of medical bills piling over one million dollars after insurance.

She says through prayer the community is believing for a miracle for Robinette.

“Our community is just trying to come together and show our love and support for him and his family and maybe do a little bit of help. She’s been doing amazingly well. She’s starting to have a little bit of complications right now, but you know, like I said, we’re just praying for the best,” said Donna Robinette Pruitt.

If you would like to help you can donate at Donate to Mid-Atlantic Transplant Fund in honor of Dawn Robinette (helphopelive.org)