Bethany Sprague Fine

Hello, my name is Bethany Sprague Fine. I have a BS degree in physical therapy from SUNY at Downstate Medical and a masters in Public Health from Boston University. I have worked as a physical therapist and also as an administrator of several rehabilitation departments. I had recently worked at Barnes Jewish in St. Louis and at the University of Chicago on the Lung Team. Imagine my surprise when I had a dry cough and some dizziness and was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. I even asked the Radiologist if their CAT scan lens was clean! I was flabbergasted!

I was diagnosed in January of 2009 and managed to keep up with things until the summer of 2010. I was placed on oxygen in August and began a very fast decline until I was an emergency admission for transplant. I was given 5-7 days to survive. I was listed and received lungs in time, September 26th. I had a lot of complications but am doing wonderfully now. I am so grateful to the donor (whoever they may be). I have been given a second chance at life and want to use my new time to pay it forward in anyway I can.

I am married to Stan Fine and live in a loft in downtown St. Louis. I have two wonderful children- Max who lives in Chicago and my daughter Juliet and her husband, Richard, who live in NYC.

I have many things I enjoy-my involvement in Second Wind, playing piano, reading books, and living life in general!