Albuquerque, April 26, 2024 – Arthur Sanchez is celebrating life anew, five years after receiving a double lung transplant at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center-a procedure made necessary by severe lung damage sustained during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The remarkable recovery offers a beacon of hope and a testament to medical innovation.
A Second Chance at Life’s Milestones
Sanchez’s story highlights the power of organ transplantation and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of a devastating illness.
- Arthur Sanchez received a life-saving double lung transplant in April 2020 after contracting COVID-19.
- He was among the first in the western United States to undergo a transplant due to post-COVID fibrosis.
- Sanchez spent 93 days on an ECMO machine before being eligible for a transplant.
- He is now thriving and enjoying family milestones, including the birth of grandchildren.
arthur Sanchez’s battle with COVID-19 was a harrowing one. He initially contracted the virus in March 2020. “I got sick, and it just kept getting worse and worse,” Sanchez recounted. “I ended up in the hospital, and it was just a nightmare.”
His condition deteriorated rapidly,requiring the use of an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine-a last-resort therapy that temporarily takes over the function of failing lungs. “There were times at UNM hospital that I had flatlined a couple of times, and so, they brought me back,” he said.
After 93 days on the ECMO machine, Sanchez was weaned off, but his lungs remained severely compromised. Doctors resolute that a lung transplant was his only viable option. “For me to be considered for that and given that option was just another, in my mind, miracle that happened,” Sanchez stated.
A pioneering Transplant
His medical team collaborated with the specialists at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Norton Thoracic Institute. Dr. Ashwini Arjuna, a lung transplant pulmonologist, explained, “It was a new challenge for many of us, as we were still exploring the virus as the journey of the pandemic continued.”
Within two weeks of arriving at St. Joseph’s, a donor match was found for Sanchez. “Art was one of the first few in the country to get transplanted for post-COVID fibrosis and I think in fact he is the first one in the western United States to get a transplant for post-COVID fibrosis,” Arjuna noted.
The life-saving double lung transplant took place in April 2020. “St. Joseph’s Hospital did an amazing job,” Sanchez said gratefully.
Now, five years post-transplant, Sanchez is thriving. “I’m truly blessed to be here,” he shared.”My family is growing… I have a grandbaby now and a grandbaby on the way.I was able to marry off my youngest daughter. My oldest daughter was already married and so, just to experiance those things within these past five years have been amazing.”
Dr. Arjuna expressed her satisfaction with Sanchez’s progress: “To see him five years down the line, doing amazingly well, and being able to enjoy what he thought he had lost is a great satisfaction.”
Sanchez’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of the pandemic and the remarkable outcomes possible through dedicated medical care, personal determination, and strong family support.”I give thanks to the good Lord every day, and every moment I have now going forward has always been great, because I’m here,” he said.
Sanchez continues to return to Phoenix for annual check-ups with his transplant team, visits the Norton team eagerly anticipates.
What is ECMO and why is it a last resort? ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, is a life-support system that takes over the function of the lungs and sometimes the heart. It’s typically used when a patient’s organs are failing and other treatments haven’t been effective.
