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A double lung transplant gave Ralph Napier his life back
Presented by UK Transplant Center
Ralph calls the UK HealthCare team his very own “Dream Team.” | Photos provided by UK Transplant Center
Ralph Napier has never been the type to sit still.
After 15 years in the coal industry and 20 years teaching math and coaching basketball at Rosspoint Elementary School in Baxter, Ralph was gearing up for his third act: launching an excavation business to help communities across Eastern Kentucky and beyond rebuild after devastating floods and hurricanes.
Then, a routine lung screening changed everything. A nodule on Ralph’s lung led to a surgery at a nearby hospital that didn’t go as planned, leaving him with a damaged lung.
Complications mounted, pneumonia developed, and by the time Ralph arrived at the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital, both lungs were inflamed and critically damaged. He was then placed on a life-support machine while doctors evaluated his condition.
Ralph needed a double lung transplant. An incidental finding by Naureen Narula, M.D., medical director of the UK Transplant Center, during his evaluation revealed he had developed black lung after years of working in the mines.
On February 20, 2025, after 45 days on the life support machine, Ralph received his transplant. The road to recovery brought four additional surgeries and treatment for damage to his hands and feet.
The Breeders’ Cup returns to Keeneland for the first time in four years this October. Expected to draw thousands of visitors, 14 races across two days will see top competitors go for $34 million in prizes. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, April 21 at 12 p.m. (Fox 56)
Arts
Go wanderTemporary Monument ATL/LEX from 12 to 5 p.m. over the weekend. The pop-up exhibit of Lexington and Atlanta artists is curated by the Temporary Art Center, 2nd Story, the UK Art Museum + others on the second floor of 325 Main St., AKA the old Festival Market.
Festival
Community organization LexArts is calling for artists and Arts Village vendors for this year’s DiverCity Festival. The free, family-friendly festival celebrates the many cultures that make up Lexington’s diverse community and is slated for the Courthouse Plaza on Saturday, May 23. Vendor applications are due by May 1.
Kids
Pre-game Independent Bookstore Day (coming Saturday, April 25) at Wildlings Bookshop inside Wilson’s Grocery at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday. Former Kentucky poet laureate and bestselling author Silas House will read “The Weedy Garden” by Nashville writer Margaret Renkl for a special storytime.
Closed
Chocomania’s Georgetown location has shut its doors, citing structural building issues. The good news? You can still shop your favorite confections at the Lexington location. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Travel
Berea is jam-packed this weekend. Start with forest meditations or the farmers market, then head to the Pinnacles for wildflowers and birdwatching. Wrap the day with exhibition openings, live music, and theatre under the open sky. Our recommendation? Make a weekend of it and explore the full lineup.*
Plan Ahead
In case you missed it, our small team will be taking a break from the newsletter tomorrow. Can’t start your mornings without LEXtoday? We’ve got plenty of content on our website to keep you busy.
State
Have you seen Coca-Cola’s limited edition Kentucky can? In honor of America’s 250-year anniversary, the beverage company released special mini cans for each US state — ours features a horse. (Nextstar Media)
Learn
Think the $1.50 hot dog is the best deal at Costco? These 10 lesser-known perks might surprise you — including vacation packages and members-only movie tickets.*
Event Spotlight
Meet Houndstock: The Sound of Kentucky
Houndstock, a new two-day music festival set for May 15-16 at Gatton Park, will feature musicians “who exemplify the raw, boundary-pushing honesty that has come to define the modern Kentucky sound.”
Headlining will be local favorite and rising star Bee Taylor, accompanied by the Lexington Philharmonic String Quartet, along with the legendary Tee Dee Young, Bedford, and many more. There will be bbq and bourbon too, of course.
Passes are on sale now, with two-day tickets going for $33+ and a promised end time of 9 p.m. nightly (which we love to hear).
The Buy
Pop quiz. What can you wear while 1) driving 2) drinking your morning coffee, or 3) reading this newsletter to look more awake and help under eyes glow? Under eye patches. Be an under eye patch influencer and work these into your morning routine:
👁️ These award-winning under eye patches employ collagen, snail mucin, and hyaluronic acid to get the job done — you should notice an immediate difference in puffiness.
👁️ Go for green tea under eye patches to get the energizing benefits of caffeine directly on your skin — you’ll get 30 in a pack.
👁️ One of the most popular brands is grace & stella. Try a variety pack to learn which key ingredient — whether retinol, caffeine, or firming peptides — makes the biggest difference to your skin.
Will I see you at Houndstock? I never miss a chance to see Bee Taylor. Her first show with the Lexington Philharmonic at the Downtown Arts Center automatically ranked as one of my top lifetime shows. It was magic. If you haven’t discovered her yet, check out her debut album “Twenty-Seven,” stat.
Heads up: There won’t be a newsletter tomorrow, but we’ll be back in your inbox on Monday.
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