New Gloucester firefighter George Carman has sat up in bed and is breathing without the help of tubes, one day after receiving a double lung transplant at a New York City hospital, said Scott Doyle, a friend and chairman of the group “New Lungs for George.”

“George has been talking. His throat is a little sore, but that is normal. His wife is saying that George is acting as if nothing happened,” wrote Doyle in an e-mail.

Carman, who has suffered from cystic fibrosis since birth, was operated on at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City.

When Carman was born, he was not expected to live long. He surprised the medical community by not only surviving, but competing in high school track and the Special Olympics. He is married and has a 12-year-old daughter.

Carman had been on a transplant list since the end of the summer. He has been in and out of Maine Medical Center since October.

Carman learned Wednesday night that a pair of lungs were available for transplant, and he was scheduled for surgery the next day, Doyle said.

For more information about Carman, go to: newlungsforgeorge.org.

10:08 a.m.

George Carman, the New Gloucester firefighter who underwent a double lung transplant Thursday, made it successfully through the surgery and woke up early Friday morning.

Carman, who has suffered from cystic fibrosis since birth, was operated on at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City.

Scott Doyle, a friend and chairman of the group “New Lungs for George,” said Carman communicated with doctors Friday morning by nodding that he was not in pain.

Doyle said doctors will test his new lungs Friday and may remove his breathing tubes this afternoon or evening.

Supporters have raised more than $200,000 to help pay for the many expenses beyond what health insurance will cover. Those expenses include renting an apartment in New York City so Carman can make constant visits to the hospital. He will be there for at least three months and as long as a year, Doyle said.

When Carman was born, he was not expected to live long. He surprised the medical community by not only surviving, but competing in high school track and the Special Olympics. He is married and has a 12-year-old daughter.

Carman had been on a transplant list since the end of the summer. He has been in and out of Maine Medical Center since October.

Carman learned Wednesday night that a pair of lungs were available for transplant, and he was scheduled for surgery the next day, Doyle said.

He was driven by Northeast Ambulance to New York City, accompanied by two New Gloucester fire-rescue squads.

For more information about Carman, go to: newlungsforgeorge.org.