CHICAGO — Northwestern Medicine’s first transplant team discharged an unforgettable patient from the hospital Wednesday after performing a successful double lung transplant.
Penny Muzanowski quickly became known at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for writing “thank you” notes to every member of her care team during her hospital stay. Each card had a picture of a bee on it.
“I doodle. I call it doodle bee therapy. It’s fun!” Muzanowski said. “My bees tell my story.”
Muzanowski and her bees generated a lot of buzz during her stay. Dr. Katherine Myers, a transplant pulmonologist at Northwestern Memorial, was by Muzanowski’s side during the hospital’s “Dream Program,” the first study to perform double-lung transplants on patients. I was very happy,” he said. who otherwise could not have received it.
Muzanowski, 65, needed a transplant due to COPD, but tests at another medical institution revealed cancer in his lungs. Historically, patients with advanced lung cancer often cannot receive a lung transplant.
“We are currently the only center in the country considering these patients,” Myers said.
Dr. Myers’ team completed Muzanowski’s double lung transplant on February 17th.
“When I got cancer,” Muzanowski said. “I decided I needed to ‘cure’ cancer.”
And now she is.
“When you are diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, you are no longer able to work,” Muzanouksi said. “I’m going to Northwestern and getting a lung transplant. [they] can save you. ”
“When a patient is so positive and so appreciative for doing this well,” Myers said. “It reminds me of why I did this work, and it’s really cool.”
That’s why when Muzanowski was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, the staff caring for her returned the favor by giving her a handmade card featuring a bee prominently featured.
“I can’t thank you enough,” Muzanouksi said.
Muzanowski will now head to rehab to continue his recovery. The former gymnast said she can now breathe and her goal is to do backflips.
