‘Her faith has been made whole’

By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice on September 22, 2026

After long and valiant struggle, Tricia Lawrenson passes on Sept. 17

By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice

Celebration of Tricia’s Life scheduled for Oct. 6 at Roanoke Island Festival Park

Update: Tricia Lawrenson’s family has confirmed that the Celebration of her Life will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. at Roanoke Island Festival Park. The rain date is Oct. 7.

(Photo courtesy Nathan Lawrenson)

Tricia Kirschner Lawrenson, who underwent three double-lung transplants during her long and valiant health battle, passed away on the evening of Sept. 17 at the Duke University Medical Center.

A Facebook post from her husband Nathan (14) Facebook informed the community that “Surrounded by family and friends, at 6:40 p.m. on Thursday, September 17, Patricia Suzanne Kirschner Lawrenson ran into the arms of her Savior. Tricia is, for the first time, exactly as God intended her to be when He thought her into existence before the creation of the world.”

“No more scars. No more pain. No more struggle for breath,” he continued. “The feeling in her neuropathic feet has returned. The wig, insulin, and feeding tube are no longer needed. She will never swallow another pill. Lungs, kidneys, heart and liver are now functioning perfectly. Her mind is renewed and her memories restored. Her faith has been made whole.”

Nathan, who shared video updates about Tricia in her final days, is the kitchen manager at Surfin’ Spoon in Nags Head. They have two children, Hunter, 20, and Gwyneth, 18.

Tricia was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs and has no known cure. Her indomitable spirit amid her struggles touched many in the Outer Banks community. When she was headed to Duke Hospital in preparation her third transplant back in 2020, a large crowd lined West Landing Drive in Kill Devil Hills to see her off. She had received the previous two transplants in 2008 and 2013.

As then KDH Mayor Ben Sproul noted in his Facebook post: “Hundreds of friends and well-wishers gathered along West Landing Drive to see them off with love, flower petals, and homemade signs.”

The Outer Banks community also responded to help with the costs of Tricia’s treatments, contributing $50,000 at one point to a GoFundMe campaign to help defray those expenses.

Tricia maintained that connection by posting updates on her condition and treatment on her Facebook page (14) Facebook. They were delivered with candor and detail, but often with a strength fueled by her family, friends and faith.

In late August, for example, she reported that “It’s now been another 30 days inpatient, filled with so many ups and downs. Through it all, though, I have felt such a deep peace and such tender love from my friends and family, along with God’s protection over me.”

Following her passing, Nathan reported that “Her final gift to this world was to donate her body to be used for medical research.”

A date and location for Tricia’s Celebration of Life will be announced shortly.

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