Double Transplant Operation Saves Teen's Life

(CBS)  Compared to her near-death experience, life now seems like a walk in the park for 16-year-old Laura Margaret Burbach.

When doctors at Duke University Medical Centersaw Laura Margaret last summer, she was frail and weighed just 55 lbs. Her life expectancy was a few months.

CBS News chief national correspondent Byron Pitts reports Laura Margaret was diagnosed with combined immune deficiency disease when she was six-months-old. The blood disorder killed her brother Michael at age 3. Laura Margaret's defective immune system could not fight infections and her lungs were irreversibly damaged.

Despite her illness, this high school cheerleader with a passion for singing and acting embraced life.

"Those were just different outlets for me to pursue something," Burbach said. "Other than just thinking about my illness and allowing myself to succumb to all the things that were happening in my body."

She even kept up with her classes via Skype from her hospital bed.

Where does her optimism come from?

She said she lived her life knowing she probably wouldn't have as long as lifespan as most people. But she is "determined to have as much of a life, as meaningful, and fulfilling to still be able to make a difference," - even if it was cut short.

Laura Margaret's spirit inspired her medical team to come up with a novel idea.

"It was transplant or death," said Dr. David Zaas.

Not just one transplant - but two: lung and bone marrow transplants from the same donor to fix both problems. By taking the bone marrow from the same donor as the lungs, doctors hoped the problem of rejection could potentially be eliminated. The hope was new immune cells churned out by the donor bone marrow wouldn't attack the lungs as foreign invaders.

"What made you guys decide, ok let's try something that's never been tried before?" Pitts asked.

"Until you meet her, until you saw how strong her personality was, and her desire to live," Dr. Zaas replied, "if anyone can survive this, she could probably do it."

But the chance of finding a suitable match was less than 1 percent. The wait could be more than a year - more time than Laura Margaret had. Then the miracle - it took just six days to find a donor.

The lung transplant was a success - and after the bone marrow transplant, Laura Margaret's immune system has been more than 98 percent replaced by the donor. She recently left the hospital beneath a blizzard of pink confetti.

"I can't believe it's really happening," she said. "I was diagnosed when I was six-months-old, and I don't have combined immune deficiency disease anymore - and I can't believe it."

[AtheistPhD]

I had a childhood friend with the same illness that Laura Margaret has, because it was in the 1960's and 1970's there wasn't much that could be done for him. However, my friend lived well beyond his life expectancy because of sheer determination. He did eventually get a double lung transplant, but life had taken its toll on him and he passed away just weeks after the procedure. This story brought back so many memories of him, his name was Winn Clary, he was from South Carolina, and he remains to this day my inspiration and one of the best friends I have ever had.

I truly hope that Laura Margaret recovers and is able to go on and have a long and happy life. Her courage and will to live should be an inspiration to us all, and proof, not that there is some mythical being watching over us, but of man's great strides to overcome ignorance and to move out of the shadows of ignorance and into the age of enlightenment.

GO LAURA MARGARET!!!!! Peace be with you, my young inspiration.

[mcclylr]

What wonderful news! My son Ryan had a bone marrow transplant at Duke in 2007. He had developed a rare fungal infection with a less than 1% chance of getting this with an auto transplant. The doctors at Duke saved his life and he is now 3 years in remission from Neuroblastoma cancer. I am so happy for you and what a beautiful young lady you are!

[proudmilvet]

What a Beautiful Young Lady!

[63nana]

this young lady is remarkable. I pray God continues to be head of her life.

[goirish1974]

Laura Margaret, you are adorable and amazing! God bless you.

[cp102]

Your amazing! This story made my day, your an inspiration!

[rf35]

Inspiring story.

And amazingly, not yet one snarky political remark about the healthcare bill.

[CompletelyFrustrated]

That is because this is real medicine at work, not a pack of vultures circling to grab every patient's last dollar.

Congratulations to the medical team that performed this miracle and God Bless Laura for her fighting spirit!

[larrryshrine]

I live in Durham, NC, home of Duke, and am friends with several Duke genetics and oncology researchers. These men and women are at the top of their field, and their research is groundbreaking. The field of epigenetics, the manipulation of genes, is quite interesting to me, and bodes well for cures in the future. God bless the young lady in this story; may she have a long, happy life.

[jonathansj]

fantastic story

[Vertrauen]

Finally, among all the depressing stories, some bright news! Finally!! May she be blessed with excellent health, longevity, happiness, wisdom and wealth! Also a great 'night cap' to turn the news off and turn in! ;)