BY LEW MOORES
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Julie Winters' brothers, who gave her another chance for life, will be there Monday when the family buries her to remember her compassion and selflessness.
Patrick Winters, left, and his brother William donated portions of their lungs to their sister, Julie Winters (picture).
(Stephen M. Herppich photo)
| ZOOM |
|
Patrick and William Winters are recovering physically and emotionally. The brothers are home from the North Carolina hospital, where they each gave a section of their healthy lungs to replace hers, which had been crippled by cystic fibrosis.
Even though his sister died 12 days later, Patrick Winters has no regrets about what he did.
"I'd do it again in a second," he said.
"She was dying. Without the operation, she had no hope at all. So by doing this -- all the way up until the very last minute -- she had a chance. She had hope.
"For that reason alone, it was worth it. You see what I mean? She gave us all a lot of hope."
Ms. Winters, 33, who underwent surgery May 13 at University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill, died of complications from the disease Monday at the hospital. Her family was with her when she died.
The surgery replaced Ms. Winters' lungs with portions of the lungs of two of her brothers. She weakened over the weekend and died on Memorial Day.
Patrick Winters said his sister's legacy will be one of selflessness and an enduring sense of compassion. Even as she became progressively more ill, Ms. Winters continued to communicate over the Internet with other cystic fibrosis patients.
"She lived her life to the utmost," Patrick Winters said. "She never dwelt on it. No matter how sick she was, she was always worried about (other people's) problems, no matter how small. She gave a lot."
The day-long operation was intended to add quality years to Ms. Winters' life.
Patrick and William, both of Fairfield, are taking things slowly, and expect recovery to take from four to six weeks.
They are heroes, says Thomas Winters, of his brothers. "She just asked for a chance, and that's what she got -- a chance," he said. The family plans to go ahead with the benefit dance June 5 at Kolping Society Banquet Hall, 10235 Mill Road, says sister-in-law Chris Winters. Money raised will be used to defray expenses not covered by insurance, and what is left will be given to benefit cystic fibrosis patients, Chris Winters said.
Meanwhile, the visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Paul R. Young Funeral Home, 7345 Hamilton Ave., Mount Healthy. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Church of the Assumption, Joseph Street, Mount Healthy. She will be buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Montgomery.
Ms. Winters, who was a Cincinnati police dispatcher for 10 years, is survived by her parents, Harry and Joan Winters, and nieces and nephews.
She is also survived by five brothers, William, Patrick, Thomas, Paul and Michael Winters.
