Before Nick Kanaan was even born, tests from his mother鈥檚 amniotic fluid determined Nick had cystic fibrosis, an inherited disorder that had already claimed two of his sisters鈥� lives, and would leave Nick fighting for his own life in 2019.
Throughout the years Nick managed the disease with daily medications. Then in October 2017, Nick started having difficulty breathing and was hospitalized for two and a half months. Although he would eventually be discharged and in stable condition, Nick鈥檚 lungs would never fully recover.
Gasping for air
Fast-forward. January 2019. After more than a year of regular check-ups, tests have determined Nick鈥檚 lungs are steadily declining, and he is desperately in need of a lung transplant.
Nick would keep taking his daily medications, hoping to find a match before his lungs got worse.
But before long, Nick caught a lung infection. He would spend several nights coughing up blood at home before being hospitalized.
Time was slipping away. And so Nick was transferred to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) 鈥� the only hospital in B.C. able to perform a special surgery that would buy him vital time.
A life-saving bridge to surgery
At VGH, Nick was placed on ECMO, a portable, donor-funded, heart-lung machine that oxygenates the blood and reinfuses it into the body, essentially taking over the role of breathing and allowing Nick鈥檚 lungs to rest.
The procedure was a success, buying precious time while Nick waited for a lung donor.
Three and a half weeks later a match was found.
Dr. John Yee of VGH performed the double-lung transplant. Nick awoke two days later, breathing on his own with a new set of lungs.
Going home
Following his surgery, Nick鈥檚 recovery was guided by teams of medical experts at VGH.
鈥淩ecovery after the transplant was one of the 鈥� if not the 鈥� most challenging parts of this journey,鈥� says Nick. 鈥淚 essentially had to learn how to move every part of my body, I had to learn how to breathe, I had to learn how to eat, I had to learn how to stand, sit, walk. This was painful and exhausting in every way.鈥�
Today, Nick is nearly back to living his normal life. He still has to take it slow and he can鈥檛 lift heavy objects, but he can safely chase his nearly three-year-old daughter, Ameera, around the house.
鈥淔or the first time in my life I laid on Nick鈥檚 chest and I listened to him take in these deep, wonderful breaths,鈥� says his wife Lindsay. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 describe that feeling.鈥�
Honour your Angel
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