Double lung transplant conquers Disney Princess 10K

Four years after going through a life-saving double lung transplant operation, 67-year-old Kim Schaefer finished the Disney Princess 10K at Walt Disney World with her daughter and granddaughter by her side.

Amidst the jubilant cheers of her family, Disney cast members, and the Mouse, the Windsor, Colorado woman, marked a poignant chapter in her journey of resilience.

Schaefer’s battle with interstitial lung disease, necessitating two oxygen machines for basic mobility, was a stark reality before the transplant in 2020 altered her trajectory. Her inaugural participation in the running event symbolized a Disney fairy tale woven with sheer perseverance.

Her odyssey commenced in 2010, during a family vacation, as she grappled with breathing difficulties. Diagnosed subsequently with interstitial lung disease, a condition characterized by progressive lung scarring, her health further plummeted with the onset of sarcoidosis and pulmonary hypertension in 2019.

Designated as a double lung transplant candidate in 2020, Schaefer confronted daunting odds of mere survival, a mere 50 percent, owing to her age and other factors.

In her journey towards recovery, running emerged as a focal point, with the runDisney race serving as a beacon of motivation throughout her arduous training regimen.

“When I was going through my therapy I had to be on the treadmill” and on the recumbent bike. While exercising she would close her eyes “and visualize being here. It just got me through the exercises to build up to have my lung transplant,” she said after the race.

Schaefer translated that aspiration into reality, crossing the 10K finish line amidst poignant celebrations with her daughter and granddaughter, companions in her 6.2-mile quest. Their festivities extend to exploring the enchanting realms of Walt Disney World over the weekend.

“It was amazing being at Disney World with my grandma, after how many years of knowing and having lung issues and being able to cross the finish line. It was really special,” granddaughter Kemper Biskup said.

“It was incredibly emotional going through everything we went through with her, and and how bad she was, thinking I lost her and then being able to come here and do this, and finish with her. It was incredibly emotional,” her daughter TJ Biskup said.