Breathing Free: A 73-Year-Old's Lung Transplant Journey

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73-year-old Lawrence Covieo was limited in his ability to go places. "I was on Oxygen for 9 years and unable to go anywhere because of a hose that was attached to me." Covieo, a 30-year resident of the Victor Valley area, was put on a waiting list in July but soon received a call in October for a left lung transplant. Covieo’s physician, Dr. Rajeev Yelamanchili, a pulmonologist in Apple Valley referred him to Gordon Yung at UC San Diego for the transplant. Although receiving the transplant in such a short time, the majority of patients wait 6 months to 2 years. After receiving the transplant, Covieo waited nearby for 30 days in his motor home to monitor if his body would reject the new organ and soon received the green light to return home. Currently, Covieo 's oxygen is back to 97% and is now able to have the freedom of moving about and traveling. …show more content…

When asked if he felt "different" with another person 's lung in him, Covieo explained he is amazed and is grateful that the young man who lost his life could help him. According to organdonor.gov, eight people can be saved from one organ donor. Organdonor.gov states, "Each day, an average of 79 people receive organ transplants. However, an average of 22 people die each day waiting for transplants that can 't take place because of the shortage of donated organs." With deaths occurring everyday due to a lack of organ donation, this tragic situation could possibly be rectified by educating the public about organ donation by revealing stories behind successuful transplants and the reality that organ donation is truly giving

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