Double Lung Transplant Gives Valley Woman a Second Chance to Sing

PHOENIX (July 18, 2025) – For most people, being able to walk, talk, and sing are things that they don’t think twice about. But for Ali Briskey, they are things she doesn’t take for granted after receiving a double lung transplant at Norton Thoracic Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center.

Briskey, 41, who grew up in the Phoenix area before relocating to Salem, Oregon, was pregnant with her second child when the scleroderma she had been living with since 2014, progressed to interstitial lung disease. Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease which sometimes leads to the hardening of internal organs, and interstitial lung disease is a condition that can cause inflammation or a build up of scar tissue in the lungs, which can make it hard to breathe.

For Briskey, the impact of her condition wasn’t obvious at first.

“It wasn't until much later that my symptoms caught up with me,” Briskey shared. “The progression was slow at first and then compounded as the years went by.”

After her youngest child was born in November 2023, Briskey had to be put on oxygen as needed, before eventually needing 10 liters at home. By September 2024, she was hospitalized with pneumonia before eventually being referred to St. Joseph’s Norton Thoracic Institute and transported to Phoenix via a medical flight for a double lung transplant evaluation.

After undergoing evaluation and being accepted as a transplant candidate, Briskey was placed on the transplant list. She received a double lung transplant at Norton just three days after being listed.

Although the transplant course was not easy, she is currently thriving as a result of her drive and determination; and her next goal is to regain her singing voice. Briskey, a singer, had sung in church and school choirs all throughout her childhood, before eventually graduating from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree in music education. Prior to her surgery, Briskey and her husband had been singing as worship leaders for their church and on other special occasions for over a decade.

Unable to speak following her transplant, Briskey immediately started using sign language, to help her communicate with her family and medical team, as she worked to regain her voice. She also began rehabilitation therapy to build her physical stamina.

“I felt like I was stripped of my identity,” says Briskey. But with time, I’ve been able to slowly build up the strength to get back to the things I love to do, and hope to be able to hike and swim soon.”

The hobby Briskey has enjoyed getting back into the most though, is singing. 

“I can sing again but my voice isn’t quite where it was before, so I’m working on strengthening it.  Before my transplant, my oldest son had heard me sing, but my youngest had not. Now he has, and it brings me so much joy. We sing a goodnight song as a family every night.”

Following her transplant, Briskey, her husband and their children have made the Valley their home.

“I grew up in Arizona and I’m excited to make it my home again and be in close proximity to my medical team at Norton. I’m so grateful for this second chance at life.” 

Briskey’s medical team at Norton are delighted with her progress as well.  

“Ali was on high oxygen support before her transplant and after she needed to be put on ECMO. Seeing all the progress she’s made post-transplant is what gives us joy in what we do as a team,” said transplant pulmonologist Dr. Leena Pawar. “I’m very happy for her and thrilled that she continues to get stronger.”