Before Bree Ahnne Bowers was one year old, she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). Her parents made sure that she led a relatively normal life with many after-school activities, balancing everyday life with her daily medical regimes to make sure she maintained her health as best she could. But CF still took a toll on her lungs. By the time Bree graduated from high school in 2007, her lung function had decreased to 54 percent. Bree was put on the waiting list for a lung transplant on November 11, 2009. After two years on the list, she opted for new lung lobes via living donors. Her father and her sister, Amber, qualified to be Bree's living donors and on December 15, 2011, Bree was given a second chance at life. She graduated from college in 2013. Bree also runs, hikes, and work part-time. "This life is a gift from God," she said. "I intend to treasure it."

Bree's Story

Before Bree Ahnne Bowers was one year old, she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF), a life threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. But her parents, Mike and Wendy Bowers, made sure that she led a relatively normal life with many after-school activities, including the city softball league, piano and voice lessons, cheerleading, theatre, and the high school student council. Bree and her parents learned to balance everyday life with her daily medical regimes to make sure she maintained her health as best she could. They continually placed their trust in God, knowing He would be with them throughout this entire journey.

Even with all of their efforts to keep Bree healthy, CF still caused regular lung infections which were taking a toll on her lung function. By the time Bree graduated from high school in 2007, her lung function had decreased to 54 percent.

As Bree grew closer to the end-stage of CF, her doctors asked if she would consider a lung transplant. Because Bree wanted to keep all possibilities open for God to use, she decided she would start that process when the time came. That time came in October 2009, and on November 11, 2009, Bree was put on the waiting list for a lung transplant.

Due to Bree's size and blood type, she did not "get the call" that she had new lungs waiting for her for over two years. In August 2011, Bree's lung function was consistently declining and the doctors knew that there wasn't a lot of time left for her, so they presented Bree and her family with the option of living lobar donations, a procedure for patients too ill to await cadaveric transplantation.

After testing five people, Bree's father and her sister, Amber, qualified to be Bree's living donors. She had been on the transplant waiting list for two years, two months, and four days, when Bree, her father, and her sister underwent surgery. Bree's mother was the designated caregiver. On December 15, 2011, Bree was given a second chance at life.

With the gracious gift of life from her father and sister, Bree, now 25, has been able to run, hike throughout Maui, graduate from college in 2013, and begin working part-time, as well as working as a school crossing guard. She is excited to see where God will lead her in the future, and how she can impact the world for her Lord, Jesus Christ.

"I am very blessed. Everything was so intricately designed by God. From having to wait for over two years on the waiting list, to all three of the surgeries, to this blessed life I have since the transplant. This life is a gift from God, I intend to treasure it," said Bree.