March 31, 2010 Contact: Carmelle Malkovich

Pager: 602-746-9303
Young Valley Woman to Celebrate Easter
with a New Set of Lungs and a New Life
A 26-year-old Valley woman is celebrating a “rebirth” this Easter after receiving a double lung
transplant at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. Before her lung transplant, Geneva
Prendergast was on oxygen and her lungs were functioning at only 20 percent. She was declining
rapidly, could no longer work and was worried she might never enjoy the wedding she had planned.
Now, she is breathing on her own, her lungs are functioning at 108 percent and she is looking forward
to marrying her fiancé, Marc Badalucco.

Prendergast has lived with cystic fibrosis, a genetic lung disease, since birth and the disease significantly grew
worse as she grew older. She had never taken a normal breath until after her transplant.

“I was sick my entire life,” says Prendergast. “Since my lung transplant, my whole world has changed
dramatically. I can take deep breaths and do anything I want. I have never felt so good. I feel reborn.”

Before her lung transplant, Prendergast and Badalucco were planning their wedding that was scheduled to
take place at the end of March. When a donor became available, they had to postpone the wedding but were
thrilled that Prendergast would finally get a set of new lungs and a second chance at life.

“The lung transplant is one of the greatest gifts I could ever receive,” says Prendergast. “Marc and I will be able
to enjoy a long life together. We hope to travel, which is something I wouldn’t have been able to do before.”

Prendergast, whose surgery was in March, is thankful to have received her transplant when she did.
Arizona’s legislature has proposed to cut AHCCCS funding for transplant patients who receive medical
coverage under the state’s Medicaid program. Geneva, who is a cosmetologist but has been unable to
work and receive health benefits because of the severity of her cystic fibrosis, is covered under
AHCCCS and Medicare. If the state cuts AHCCCS funding for transplants, patients like Geneva may not
be able to receive their transplants.

“It’s sort of like a death sentence to take AHCCCS coverage away from those who are in desperate need for
transplants,” says Geneva. “Had I not have been able to undergo a transplantation, it would have been
devastating. This transplant saved my life.”

“Geneva was declining rapidly and it was necessary for her to have a lung transplantation,” says Rajat Walia,
MD, associate director of lung transplantation at St. Joseph’s. “Her transplant was so successful that she was
out of the hospital just six days after the procedure. She has so many reasons to celebrate a blessed Easter
this year.”

“I can’t explain how awesome it feels to be well,” says Geneva. “I’ve conquered one milestone and now I am
close to reaching another lifelong goal – my wedding. I couldn’t ask for anything more!”

St. Joseph’s Heart & Lung Institute is the only Valley hospital with a lung transplantation program. Before St.
Joseph’s began its program, most valley patients had to travel outside of the state for care.

 St. Joseph’s 
Geneva and Dr. Walia are available for interviews with the media this week. Please page 602-746-9303
to schedule interviews.