Man gets life-saving transplant in Arizona after battling COVID

PHOENIX — Louisiana respiratory therapist Byron Bolanos has taken pride in supporting patients acquire a deep breath for much more than two decades. “We delight ourselves in becoming equipped to resolve persons and get them off of a ventilator,” claimed Bolanos. 

But final January, Bolanos would develop into the patient just after contracting COVID-19. The virus scarred his lungs beyond mend and place the lifestyle-very long Dallas Cowboys fan and father of two on a ventilator. 

“The virus just got worse to where by I really do not try to remember them speaking about to set me on a ventilator,” explained Bolanos. “I was getting care of COVID-19 patients and I under no circumstances considered I could get so sick. The moment I examined beneficial for the virus, I hoped that it would be a moderate circumstance and that I could just rest and quarantine, and then get greater,” recalled Bolanos. “Unfortunately, that was not my expertise with COVID-19.” 

His doctors attained out to medical professionals at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Norton Thoracic Institute in Phoenix. 

“Byron’s case was related to a ton of COVID-19 patients. His lungs were very scarred,” claimed Lara Schaheen, MD, one of Bolanos’ lung transplant surgeons at Norton. “These lung transplant clients are not the exact as our standard lung transplant clients. They are typically healthy, young, practical, living a standard high quality of life and then get sick with COVID and their lungs fall short.” 

Medical professionals worked to locate donor lungs that matched Bolanos’ blood type and were being identical in dimensions. Past July, he underwent the lifesaving double lung transplant operation.

“I had to discover how to breathe all above yet again. My system experienced to get use to the new lungs, one thing that’s not mine,” stated Bolanos. “I’m grateful and grateful for a 2nd possibility.”   

Bolanos’ road to restoration will be prolonged, but each individual breath he takes reminds him of the next probability he is been given by his donor. A second probability he will cherish paying out with his cherished kinds. 

“I have two beautiful daughters and to be capable to check out them increase and be in a position to one working day stroll my daughters down the aisle,” claimed Bolanos.     

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