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Double-lung transplant saves father after lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis

This holiday season Angel donations will help fund the most urgent health care needs
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After living with cystic fibrosis his entire life, Nick Kanaan required a double-lung transplant. Today, he honours Dr. John Yee and the medical team at VGH who helped save his life.

Before Nick Kanaan was even born, tests from his motherB次元官网网址檚 amniotic fluid determined Nick had cystic fibrosis, an inherited disorder that had already claimed two of his sistersB次元官网网址 lives, and would leave Nick fighting for his own life in 2019.

Throughout the years Nick managed the disease with daily medications. Then in October 2017, Nick started having difficulty breathing and was hospitalized for two and a half months. Although he would eventually be discharged and in stable condition, NickB次元官网网址檚 lungs would never fully recover.

Gasping for air

Fast-forward. January 2019. After more than a year of regular check-ups, tests have determined NickB次元官网网址檚 lungs are steadily declining, and he is desperately in need of a lung transplant.

Nick would keep taking his daily medications, hoping to find a match before his lungs got worse.

But before long, Nick caught a lung infection. He would spend several nights coughing up blood at home before being hospitalized.

Time was slipping away. And so Nick was transferred to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) B次元官网网址 the only hospital in B.C. able to perform a special surgery that would buy him vital time.

A life-saving bridge to surgery

At VGH, Nick was placed on ECMO, a portable, donor-funded, heart-lung machine that oxygenates the blood and reinfuses it into the body, essentially taking over the role of breathing and allowing NickB次元官网网址檚 lungs to rest.

The procedure was a success, buying precious time while Nick waited for a lung donor.

Three and a half weeks later a match was found.

Dr. John Yee of VGH performed the double-lung transplant. Nick awoke two days later, breathing on his own with a new set of lungs.

Going home

Following his surgery, NickB次元官网网址檚 recovery was guided by teams of medical experts at VGH.

B次元官网网址淩ecovery after the transplant was one of the B次元官网网址 if not the B次元官网网址 most challenging parts of this journey,B次元官网网址 says Nick. B次元官网网址淚 essentially had to learn how to move every part of my body, I had to learn how to breathe, I had to learn how to eat, I had to learn how to stand, sit, walk. This was painful and exhausting in every way.B次元官网网址

Today, Nick is nearly back to living his normal life. He still has to take it slow and he canB次元官网网址檛 lift heavy objects, but he can safely chase his nearly three-year-old daughter, Ameera, around the house.

B次元官网网址淔or the first time in my life I laid on NickB次元官网网址檚 chest and I listened to him take in these deep, wonderful breaths,B次元官网网址 says his wife Lindsay. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 describe that feeling.B次元官网网址

Honour your Angel

We all have Angels in our lives. Join Nick in honouring your Angel this holiday season.

Your donation will help fund the most urgent needs of our health care system, providing the best and most specialized health care for you and your loved ones when you need it most.

Learn more at .



About the Author: Black Press Media Staff

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