On the Road to Recovery

There is good news to report!

Brother Ed Hoover, Lodge No. 364, Susquehanna, has received a new set of lungs!

An article about Ed’s journey to find a transplant was published in the spring 2025 issue of the Pennsylvania Freemason magazine.

In 2018, at age 30, Ed was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a serious and incurable disease of the lungs. IPF is a genetic disease. His father passed away from IPF, and his sister underwent three double lung transplants.

Ed worked closely with Bill Soloway, director of the Masonic Blood + Organ Donor Program, and within two months of transferring to the University of Pennsylvania hospital, he was listed for a double lung transplant.

Ed packed his bags and waited patiently for a call that the transplant was a go. After six dry runs, the seventh time was the charm, and he received a new set of lungs on April 30, 2025.

“A perfect match [set of lungs] is not just about blood type, but size and antibodies,” Bill said. “A decision isn’t made until the lungs are actually in the operating room and the surgeon has eyes on them to determine if they will be viable.”

In a video recorded two weeks after the transplant, Ed said he was feeling good and could be discharged from the hospital early next week. He will then be staying at Gift of Life Howie’s House in Philadelphia for about a month to be closer to the hospital. He thanked Bill for all his support, and especially Dr. Christian A. Bermudez, his heart and lung transplant surgeon at Penn.

“Fear was a big player in this whole journey, but the doctor helped me get through that fear with how picky he was about the donor lungs that were coming,” he said. “There were a lot of failed attempts, but that made me feel a lot more comfortable knowing he wasn’t afraid to turn down a pair of lungs and that he wanted the right set for me. It made me feel like I could trust him. I can’t explain how much that helped settle me down in this journey.”

While Ed is progressing quicker than anticipated with his recovery, Bill cautioned that he now has “a new life with a new set of rules.” Calling it a “miracle” that he went from being on life support to walking the halls of the hospital, Bill said Ed still needs to be careful.

Being on an immunosuppressant, he is more susceptible to picking up airborne illnesses that can affect his new lungs, even the common cold.

For now, Ed said he is grateful for all the prayers from his friends and fellow Masons. He remains optimistic about his prognosis. He is grateful for the support of his girlfriend, Cortney, and his two daughters, Raelynn, 9, and Raegan, 6.

Read the Freemason article about Ed’s journey here:

A Fight for Life: Hope, Heart and Masonic Support – The Pennsylvania Freemason Magazine