LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — Las Cruces resident Arthur Sanchez shared his harrowing journey of battling COVID-19, which led to a rare double-lung transplant.
Sanchez’s ordeal began in Easter 2020 when his family was severely affected by the virus.
“My brother-in-law was the first male to die in Dona Ana County,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez himself faced severe complications, requiring treatment at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque.
Doctors decided on a lung transplant, a procedure rarely performed for COVID-19 patients at the time.
“It was my understanding that my transplant was fourth in the world,” Sanchez explained.
Sanchez was transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, where he received the transplant on Aug. 16.
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Dr. Ashwini Arjuna, a lung transplant pulmonologist at Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, discussed the groundbreaking lung transplant performed on Sanchez.
Sanchez suffered from post-COVID fibrosis, a severe fibrotic lung disease resulting from COVID-19, which led to acute respiratory distress.
“He went into acute respiratory distress needing to be salvaged on a mechanical support device called VV ECMO [Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation],” Dr. Arjuna said.
Due to the irreversible damage, Sanchez required a double lung transplant, marking a significant milestone as the first post-COVID transplantation in the western United States.
Dr. Arjuna highlighted the challenges faced during the pandemic, stating, “It was very difficult for us to understand what we were anticipating against a virus that we were still learning.”
Despite the complexities, Sanchez’s transplant was successful, with a quick turnaround from listing to surgery.
“He got listed, I think, on a Friday and he got lungs the same weekend,” Dr. Arjuna noted.
Post-transplant, patients like Sanchez must adhere to strict medical regimens to prevent infections and rejection.
Dr. Arjuna emphasized the importance of education and medication, saying, “We tend to educate them from the get-go, even before a transplant, about the known complications.”
Reflecting on the journey, Dr. Arjuna expressed gratitude for the donor and the team’s efforts, stating, “Seeing him and his family flourish makes the entire team happy today.”
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Sanchez’s recovery story was remarkable.
“If you were to see me today, you wouldn’t even know my story based on my health and how I feel,” Sanchez said.
Reflecting on his experience, Sanchez emphasized the importance of family and gratitude.
“I’ve been given a second chance for some reason,” Sanchez said, urging others to cherish their time with loved ones.
Sanchez expressed deep appreciation for the medical staff who risked their own health to save his life.
“People give up things so that I could be here,” Sanchez said, thanking everyone involved in his care.
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