MADISON -- Culminating his two-year struggle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), Trey Schwab, who received a double-lung transplant in 2004, was essentially dead for 40 minutes following complications from the operation. Surviving by what his surgeon called “a miracle,” Schwab paused to take a look at his second chance at life, walked away from a promising coaching career, leaving his position as assistant basketball coach at Marquette to dedicate his life to improving organ donation. Schwab, who now works at the UW Health Organ Procurement Organization, will be honored for his work at the Second Annual Breathing Is Glorious (B.I.G.) Ball on Saturday, October 21 at The Renaissance Chicago Hotel.

The event, sponsored by the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF), the University of Chicago and Honorary Chairman Senator Dick Durbin, will award Schwab with the Francis Cabral Humanitarian Award. The award is named for Frank Cabral, who also suffered from IPF and was successfully transplanted, and has dedicated his life’s work to the disease. Schwab is the second person to receive the award.

Originally, Schwab used his highly visible coaching position and connections to the media to get his message out. “I wanted to do whatever I could to promote organ donation,” says Schwab.

“Trey bravely fought a very public fight with IPF and shared his story in such a heartfelt manner that it inspired patients around the country,” says Mark Shreve, CEO of the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis. “He is an inspiration for so many patients; he exemplifies the character and integrity for which the award is named.”

After his transplant, Schwab returned to his team at Marquette and served one more year as their assistant coach, but soon realized he could help a lot more people if his work became official. Schwab joined the UW Health OPO in 2005 and works tirelessly traveling the state educating hospital staff, arranging public events and sharing his story to encourage people to take action and share their intent to be a donor. He is recognized throughout the national transplant and OPO communities for his commitment and dedication, and is often called upon to share his knowledge and experience.

“Trey has been a tireless and passionate champion for increasing organ donation throughout our communities,” says Tony D’Alessandro, MD, Executive Director of the UW Health OPO. “His work has brought the message- that making the decision to donate life saves lives- to more people than ever before.”

IPF is a devastating, ultimately fatal lung disease characterized by progressive scarring of the lungs, ultimately robbing a person of the ability to breathe. Approximately 128,000 people in the United States have IPF, with an estimated 48,000 new cases developing each year. The cause of the disease is unknown, but it attacks men and women equally and most cases are diagnosed when the patients are between the ages of 40 and 70.

“I was 37 years old when I was diagnosed,” says Schwab. “I had never heard of IPF before, but when you’re told you’re going downhill quickly and have maybe six months to live, you do your research.”

Schwab worked closely with Keith Meyer, MD, a UW Health pulmonologist who specializes in IPF. “Dr. Meyer was one of a handful of physicians in the country who has done a lot of research on IPF,” says Schwab. “He kept me alive for the 25 months it took to get my transplant.”

Unfortunately, the prevalence and incidence of IPF is on the rise. Once diagnosed, IPF patients have an average of three years to live, and there is no FDA-approved treatment to alleviate their suffering.

“Right now, the only hope for survival for end-stage IPF patients is a lung transplant, it is the end of the line for them, adds Schwab. “The more people we can help to receive transplants, the better off we’re all going to be.”

Funds from the B.I.G. Ball, through The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, will be directed to patient care and research to identify causes, treatments and ultimately, a cure for IPF.

Physicians and staff from the UW Health Transplant and Organ Procurement programs will join 400 guests, including patients, family members and supporters, to recognize their co-worker’s achievements. The Roney family, who has lost eight family members to IPF, will chair this year’s event.

“I’m very honored to receive this award,” says Schwab. “It means a lot to me that the

Coalition thinks that much of the work I’ve tried to do to promote organ promotion.” Adds Schwab, “Until we can discover a better treatment- drugs or some other way to help these people who are suffering from this awful disease – many of them will need a lung transplant to live.

“We need more people to add their donor dot and sign their driver’s license, and tell their family and friends,” adds Schwab. “There are so many lives that could be saved if more people would take a minute to talk to their family about their wishes to become organ donors.”