Arizona doctor has successful double lung transplant

PHOENIX, Ariz. (KNXV) — An Arizona doc has a batch to beryllium thankful for aft surviving a treble lung transplant.

For much than 30 years, nephrologist Dr. Berne Yee has served arsenic a kidney transplant specialist, helping to prevention countless lives.

In aboriginal January, conscionable days aft receiving his archetypal dose of the Pfizer vaccine, helium fell ill.

"I had chills and nonaccomplishment of taste," Dr. Yee said.

Yee tested affirmative for COVID-19.

"Nobody other successful the household got it, truthful my presumption was that I got it from enactment earlier I got the vaccine," helium said.

Yee's wellness deteriorated quickly. The microorganism ravaged his lungs, forcing him onto a ventilator and into a medically-induced coma for astir a month.

Dr. Ross Bremner described Yee's lungs arsenic "awful."

Dr. Bremner advised Dr. Yee helium had nary different enactment but to get a life-saving treble lung transplant.

"Initially I rejected the conception due to the fact that I didn't cognize however sick I was," Yee said.

It took a sobering informing to person Yee his information was grave.

"If helium didn't get a lung transplant, helium astir apt would person succumbed to the disease," Bremner said.

Yee was instantly placed successful the Norton Lung Transplant Program and placed connected the donor list.

In April, Yee got the telephone that a brace of lungs were disposable for transplant. His woman Lily was relieved.

"It was scary during that process, but I was optimistic," she said.

The country performed astatine St. Joseph's Hospital was a success, leaving the transplant doctor, turned transplant patient, with a caller position connected those he's treated successful the past.

"Because present I've walked successful their shoes," Yee said.

Yee has retired from medicine to absorption connected his betterment but says if helium ever returns, helium would beryllium overmuch much compassionate. He said he's developed a greater appreciation for each and each breath.

"I deliberation determination whitethorn person been immoderate celestial involution due to the fact that we've seen radical conscionable arsenic sick arsenic I americium [do] not marque it," helium said. "I was beauteous sick but was capable to get transplanted and I'm present today."

Yee says he's looking guardant to the clip erstwhile helium tin conscionable the donor's household successful idiosyncratic to convey them for the life-saving gift.

This communicative was archetypal reported by Marc Thompson connected abc15.com.