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�
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