- Playing
- StoryCorps: Howell Graham and Nan Graham
- From
- StoryCorps
As a child, Howell Graham was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that often affects the lungs.
In 1990, he had a double-lung transplant — a risky, experimental operation at the time. Today, Howell is one of the longest-surviving recipients of that surgery.
Here, Howell and his mom, Nan, remember the days after his surgery.
Also in the StoryCorps series
StoryCorps: Harrison Wright and Sean Guess
(00:01:56)
From: StoryCorps
Harrison Wright tells his grandson, Sean Guess, about serving in the Army at the end of World War II.
StoryCorps: Van and Shirley Harris
(00:02:17)
From: StoryCorps
Van Harris and his wife, Shirley, remember being young in Brooklyn during the 1940s.
StoryCorps: Theresa and Dennis McLaughlin
(00:02:16)
From: StoryCorps
Theresa McLaughlin speaks about raising her son, Dennis, who was born with spina bifida, leaving him unable to use his legs.
StoryCorps: Ricardo Isaias Zavala and Ricardo Javier Zavala
(00:02:32)
From: StoryCorps
Ricardo Isais Zavala remembers his grandfather, Vicente Domingo Villa, in an interview with his son, Ricardo Javier Zavala.
StoryCorps NTI: Kate Musick and Harleé Patrick, Jose Catalan and Carlos Vizcarra
(00:02:50)
From: StoryCorps
Two stories about teachers who went beyond the classroom to help their kids.
StoryCorps: Marco Ferreira and Wendy Tucker
(00:01:54)
From: StoryCorps
Marco Ferreira talks to his wife, Wendy Tucker, about surviving a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 2008.
StoryCorps: Lisa Combest and James Hanson-Brown
(00:02:25)
From: StoryCorps
Lisa Combest and her ex-husband, James Hanson-Brown, talk about how their marriage ended.
StoryCorps Griot: Karen Slade, Eric "Rico" Reed and Arthur "Sonny" Williams
(00:02:28)
From: StoryCorps
Karen Slade, Eric "Rico" Reed, and Arthur "Sonny" Williams of radio station KJLH remember the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.
StoryCorps: Kenneth and Gaye Honeycutt
(00:02:03)
From: StoryCorps
Kenneth Honeycutt tells his wife Gaye about witnessing the New London School Explosion of 1937.
StoryCorps: David Plant and Frank Lilley
(00:02:34)
From: StoryCorps
Frank Lilley interviews his stepfather, David Plant, about approaching the end of his life.
Related Pieces
Piece Description
As a child, Howell Graham was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that often affects the lungs.
In 1990, he had a double-lung transplant — a risky, experimental operation at the time. Today, Howell is one of the longest-surviving recipients of that surgery.
Here, Howell and his mom, Nan, remember the days after his surgery.
Broadcast History
NPR Morning Edition 7/22/11
Transcript
Howell Graham (HG): I remember waking up from the surgery being on the vent and seeing this absolutely beautiful brunette nurse. She held my hand her entire shift. And I was kind of in and out of consciousness. And I guess the following shift a male nurse came in—this big burly dude—
Nan Graham (NG): (laughs)
HG: And I was not happy at all. Couldn't talk because I was on the ventilator but I just was writing notes like, “Get him the heck out of here,” and “I don't want this guy, get me the girl back and—“
NG: Lots of cursing. Lots of cursing.
HG: Lots of cursing. And my—my dad was tearing up the notes because he was scared the male nurse would find the notes and kill me.
NG: (laughs)
HG: So he spent his time intercepting my hate notes.
NG: Which is kind of understandable. When did you get out of the hospital?
HG: It was a month later.
NG: And when you got home, things were goi...
Read the full transcript
Intro and Outro
INTRO:Fridays we hear from StoryCorps -- this project travels the country, recording the stories of everyday people.
As a child, Howell Graham was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis-- a genetic disease that often affects the lungs.
By his late 20s, Howell would lose his breath... doing things as simple as brushing his teeth...
So he underwent a risky operation …In 1990, he had a double lung transplant…
And today, Howell is one of the longest surviving recipients of that surgery.
Recently, Howell and his mom, Nan remembered a few times when it seemed like he might not make it…
"I remember waking up...life is good."
Howell Graham and his mom Nan at StoryCorps in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Their conversation will be archived with all others at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
Get the PODCAST at NPR dot ORG.
This is NPR News.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mother of Pearl | Pram | The Museum of Imaginary Animals. | Merge | 2000 | 00:26 |
Additional Credits
NPR, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Principal Financial Group
Related Website
Of 2 purchasers of this piece...
- 2 also bought:
Summer With Kara and the Swing (00:04:04) - 2 also bought:
Navajo Pentacostal (00:09:25) - 2 also bought:
Dia's Diary: My Mother (00:06:08) - 2 also bought:
Jeff in Boston: Halfrican (00:13:12) - 2 also bought:
Of A Piece (00:17:05)
