Close to My Heart: The Terrifying, Sometimes Humorous Journey to a Double-Lung Transplant

We all experience extraordinary highs and lows in life. Having Robert Emmet’s doctor tell him he had until Christmas to live was one of Emmet’s darkest moments. The diagnosis: an incurable disease called IPF - Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. The disease was taking over Emmet’s lungs.

At first, Emmet was in denial. Then slowly he came to understand that the only way to survive the disease was to replace both of his lungs. Preparing for that monumental task, including the most important step - finding a lung donor - and then experiencing the intricate surgery and recovery, are explained fully here by Emmet … inspirational lessons of perseverance and joy.

This is a story of powerful intent, the strength to fight for one’s survival, and the love of all things human. And yet it’s also an intimate patient’s perspective of what happens when all of the stars align just right. In it you’ll find humorous moments, unexpected twists and turns, and even zany, eye-opening hospital procedures. In Emmet’s case, they all combined to save a life.