Former racing driver Sonye Wilgen, 58, has described her recovery after a double lung transplant at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi as a journey of gratitude, not resilience. Before the procedure in September 2024, Wilgen relied on oxygen around the clock. She could no longer drive, bathe herself, or even hug her husband without becoming breathless. "I wasn’t alive," she said. "I was existing." "My journey has not been one of resilience or strength or anything else. It’s been one of gratitude." — Sonye Wilgen Today, she says she has not felt this well in 11 years. Simple acts — walking her dogs, climbing stairs, sneezing, showering alone — have become profound milestones. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has performed 664 life-saving transplants since launching its programme in 2017. Her health decline began in 2011 after her grandmother’s death in South Africa. Diagnosed with chronic asthma, her condition worsened over years of treatment across the UK, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. She resisted transplant due to her vegan beliefs and moral hesitation about accepting a stranger’s organs. Her husband helped her reframe it as accepting a gift. The call for a donor came while her husband was in South Africa attending her father-in-law’s funeral. She told him to stay with family. When she woke up after surgery, he was there. "I remember opening my eyes, seeing his face and saying thank you." Her recovery included a four-month hospital stay after a gastrointestinal emergency, but her new lungs performed well. She still checks her oxygen levels in disbelief — now consistently at 99 or 100 percent, up from 80 percent on oxygen. Wilgen does not know her donor’s identity but knows the donor saved nine lives. "How do you say thank you for your life?" she asked. "But there is not a fibre in my being that is not absolutely grateful."
Frequently asked questions
What is World Transplant Day?World Transplant Day is observed to highlight the importance of organ donation and transplantation. Sonye Wilgen’s story was shared on this day in 2026.
How many organ transplants has Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi performed?Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has performed 664 life-saving transplants since launching its programme in 2017.
What is the story of Sonye Wilgen’s transplant?Sonye Wilgen, a 58-year-old former racing driver, received a double lung transplant at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in September 2024 and has since regained her independence and improved her health significantly.
How long did Sonye Wilgen rely on oxygen before her transplant?Before her transplant, Sonye Wilgen relied on oxygen around the clock.
