A year ago, even speaking a few sentences left a 65-year-old woman from Faridabad gasping for breath. Suffering from end-stage Interstitial Lung Disease caused by scleroderma — a rare autoimmune disorder that had severely damaged her lungs — she depended on continuous oxygen support almost every minute of the day.

Today, she is breathing on her own.

In what doctors describe as a landmark achievement, the woman has successfully completed one year after undergoing a bilateral lung transplant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, becoming the first patient in a private hospital in Delhi to reach this milestone after the complex procedure.

Her journey back to life began with an extraordinary act of human generosity. A 48-year-old man in Noida was declared brain-dead, and his family made the courageous decision to donate his organs. The donated lungs became a lifeline for the Faridabad woman, whose condition had deteriorated rapidly despite treatment.

Doctors at Apollo Delhi moved swiftly. The transplant surgery lasted nearly seven hours and was performed while the patient remained on ECMO support — a life-saving technique that temporarily takes over heart and lung function to maintain oxygen supply during critical procedures.

But the operation was only the beginning.

Her recovery proved long, difficult, and emotionally draining. She required ventilator support, underwent a tracheostomy, and needed more than 15 bronchoscopies before her breathing reflexes gradually returned. Slowly, external support systems were removed one by one. Oral medications, intensive physiotherapy, nutritional support, and continuous counselling became part of her daily routine as she fought her way back.

Today, she no longer needs oxygen support and has regained much of her independence.

“Before the transplant, I was dependent on oxygen 24 hours a day. Even basic activities like bathing, changing clothes, or entering the kitchen had become extremely difficult,” the patient recalled. “Now I can do all these things on my own. I feel energetic and full of life again.”

She admitted that the post-transplant phase was far from easy. Frequent blood tests, regular medications, dietary precautions, and hospital visits became routine. But over time, things improved steadily.

“I am slowly returning to normal life,” she said. “I can even step outside now while taking precautions like wearing a mask and avoiding crowded places.”

According to experts, lung transplantation remains one of the most challenging procedures in modern medicine. The first year after surgery is considered the most critical period for survival and recovery.

What makes the process even more difficult is the severe shortage of donor lungs. Doctors say only 15 to 20 percent of donated lungs are suitable for transplantation, while nearly one-third of patients waiting for lung transplants do not survive long enough to receive an organ.

For an elderly patient with advanced lung fibrosis and autoimmune complications, surviving and recovering well after one year is considered a significant medical achievement.

Dr. Mukesh Goel, Senior Consultant in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Apollo Delhi, said the milestone reflects the growing capabilities of lung transplant programmes in the capital.

“For years, patients from Delhi and NCR had to travel to cities like Chennai or Hyderabad for lung transplants. With NOTTO now recognising Apollo Delhi for lung allocation, that situation is changing,” he said. “Our focus is not just performing transplants, but ensuring long-term survival and quality of life.”

Dr. Avdhesh Bansal, Senior Consultant in Respiratory Medicine, described lung transplantation as among the most complex procedures in medicine.

“When she first came to us, her lungs were failing rapidly and she required constant oxygen support,” he said. “Seeing her now living independently and breathing without oxygen is deeply encouraging. It reflects the importance of multidisciplinary care, rehabilitation, and continuous follow-up.”

Doctors say the case is also a reminder of the life-saving power of organ donation — where one family’s difficult decision gave another person a second chance at life.