Meet Terri Pilawa
In Memory of My Donor Maria Berfalia
This is a photo of my Donor Maria Berfalia Quinteros, I am so grateful for this second chance at life. I am also heart broke that her family suffered a tremendous loss. The hardest and most rewarding choice for her family to make was organ donation. Very Thankful.
Watch Terri’s Memories on Facebook below.
- Meet Terri Pilawa President of One Breath Foundation
Terri Pilawa’s Journey
In August 2009, Terri Pilawa married her best friend, beginning a journey filled with love, life, and sacrifice. Initially misdiagnosed with asthma, her condition worsened until, in 2012, she was accurately diagnosed with NSIP (Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia) Pulmonary Fibrosis. As her health declined, Terri underwent a life-saving double lung transplant at USC Keck Medical in June 2015.
Following the transplant, Terri embraced her second chance at life—traveling with her husband, attending events, and cherishing time with loved ones. She became a passionate advocate for organ donation, serving as a One Legacy Ambassador, Nevada Donor Network Advocate, UNOS Ambassador, and CEO of One Breath Foundation. In April 2019, she met her donor’s family, honoring the young woman, Maria Berfalia Quinteros, who had saved her life.
Terri’s journey continued with a nose reconstruction using donor tissue in November 2020, further enhancing her quality of life. Now living her best transplant life, Terri inspires others with her story of resilience, gratitude, and the transformative power of organ donation.
