A Canadian woman has survived six days with no lungs thanks to pioneering surgery and state-of-the-art technology that successfully oxygenated and circulated her blood after both her lungs were removed simultaneously.
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Doctors at Toronto General Hospital made the life-saving call with just hours to spare as Melissa Benoit, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, had contracted a serious, antibiotic-resistant lung infection back in April 2016.
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At the time, no donor had been found and there was no precedent for such a procedure but the team chose to make the high risk decision in the hope that a suitable donor could be found in time. They did not anticipate a wait of six days.
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As part of her recovery, Melissa has had to learn how to lift her head, raise her torso and stand again after almost six months in bed following the operation.
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She is also preparing for another transplant in the near future as her kidneys were damaged throughout the process. Thankfully Melissa’s mother has agreed to donate one of hers as soon as her daughter is strong enough.”
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