Sarah Murnaghan Stands Up for 1st time in Months

A 10-year-old girl whose fight to obtain a lung transplant resulted in a court ruling in her favor continues to make a steady recovery, according to her mother.

Sarah Murnaghan's mother, Janet, wrote on her Facebook page that the girl stood up for the first time in months.

"Sarah stood today in physical therapy," Janet said. "After months in bed and lots of time paralyzed and sedated, this was a huge accomplishment. Here she is sitting up in bed all by herself."

Last Friday, Janet wrote that Sarah underwent her first Trach change, had her last chest tube removed and was moved back to a traditional ventilator. 

"Sarah's feeling such pride in her accomplishments this afternoon," Janet wrote. "She did a dance in bed over that."

On July 12, Sarah underwent surgery for a tracheostomy. Janet wrote that she was relieved the procedure was over and it was a joy to see her daughter's face sans tubes and tape.

Murnaghan says the procedure created an opening into Sarah's windpipe that she can breathe through.

The Newtown Square girl, who has end-stage cystic fibrosis, received a pair of adult-lung transplant after a federal judge ruled in favor of her parents' lawsuit challenging national rules regarding organ donations.

"Our heads are spinning, definitely not slow and steady today, just improving left and right," wrote Janet on Friday. "I am so proud of her! We are told a move out of Cardiac Intensive Care Unit is in our near future, now that will be a victory. Stay tuned."

Officials at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where Sarah is being treated, have declined to comment on her case.

Related Stories on NBC10.com

Contact Us