Woman finishes 10K race after being told she had 50% survival rate
Kim Schaefer, 67, from Colorado, hugs her daughter at the finish line of the Disney Princess 10K presented by CORKCICLE at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 24. The runDisney event was the first race for Schaeffer who underwent double lung transplant surgery in 2020 after she was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease. (Omark Reyes, photographer)
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DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado resident completed a 10K just years after doctors told her she had a 50% survival rate due to progressive lung disease.
Kim Schaefer’s story dates back to 2010 when she had difficulty breathing on a family vacation.
It wasn’t until years later that she was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease, which causes scarring of lung tissue and limits the amount of oxygen flowing into the bloodstream.
In 2019, Schaefer was also diagnosed with sarcoidosis and pulmonary hypertension.
The local Windsor resident needed two oxygen tanks just to move around.
Kim Schaefer, 67, from Colorado, hugs her daughter at the finish line of the Disney Princess 10K presented by CORKCICLE at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 24. The runDisney event was the first race for Schaeffer who underwent double lung transplant surgery in 2020 after she was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease. (Omark Reyes, photographer) 
Kim Schaefer (right), 67, shows off her medal after finishing the Disney Princess 10K presented by CORKCICLE with her daughter and granddaughter. The runDisney event was the first race for Schaefer who underwent double lung transplant surgery in 2020 after she was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease. The family from Colorado completed the race at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 24. (Omark Reyes, photographer) 
Kim Schaefer (left), 67, celebrates a “miracle” moment with her daughter, granddaughter and Minnie Mouse. Schaefer completed the Disney Princess 10K presented by CORKCICLE at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 24. The runDisney event was the first race for Schaefer who underwent double lung transplant surgery in 2020 after she was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease. (Omark Reyes, photographer)
In 2020, Schaefer became a transplant candidate and eventually received a double lung transplant.
In just a few years, Schaefer’s life completely changed. She was not only able to move around without an oxygen tank, but she was also able to participate in an over 6-mile race on Saturday.
After a more than 10-year battle and a double lung transplant, Schaefer, 67, completed a 10K race at Walt Disney World with her daughter and granddaughter, according to a press release from runDisney.
As for the rest of the weekend, Schaefer enjoyed some well-deserved fun with her family while exploring the theme parks.