Man with cystic fibrosis is ecstatic to learn he'll be getting a new set of lungs
This is the thrilling moment that a cystic fibrosis patient learns that he’s been approved for a lung transplant operation.
Kevin D’Agostino was born with the disease, which causes severe lung infections due to a build-up of mucus in the lungs and and other organs, including the pancreas liver. According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the condition can also create problems with food absorption, inhibit the body’s growth, and cause infertility. Kevin’s sister Julie, who also suffered from cystic fibrosis, died in 2015 of complications from her second lung transplant, as the D’Agostino family explains on the Julie D. Foundation website.
Last week, Kevin’s brother Mike Instagrammed a video of their mother telling Kevin he would be undergoing a lung transplant that day in Hines, Ill. “Kevin D got new lungs last night!” wrote Mike after the operation. “After being on the transplant list for quite some time, the perfect lungs came. Thank you to Dr. Ali and his team at Loyola for their hard work during the 8-hour surgery. We saw Kevin early this morning and he looks great! They said the surgery well went, and we are excited for his recovery. We also want to keep in mind the donor’s family, we appreciate their gift and are thinking of them during their time of mourning.”
A post shared by Michael D’Agostino (@mikey5d) on Dec 6, 2018 at 4:35am PST
“You’re getting new lungs, Kevin,” says a woman in the video. “You’re getting new lungs!”
Kevin, lying in bed wearing a nose tube, pops into a sitting position. “No way!” he yells. “No, no mom. Stop it.” He hugs his family saying, “Tonight?”
“Not tonight — this morning,” say his parents. “We have to be there at 4 a.m.”
“Mom, I thought I was really low on the list,” says Kevin.
After the procedure at Loyola University Medical Center, Mike posted a video of Kevin walking three laps around the hospital floor, giving a thumbs-up to the camera.
“Thank you for the outpouring of love and support, Kevin D has already been cruising around the nurse’s station 1 day after a double lung transplant…..almost unheard of! He is feeling less pain and even more comfortable as the time goes on. All signs point to a smooth recovery. The entire hospital staff, from the doctors to the respiratory therapists to the nurses are raving about how PERFECT Kevin’s new lungs are….we are so thankful and happy for Kevin and grateful to the selfless generosity of the donor family.”
The D’Agostino family did not return Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment.
A post shared by Michael D’Agostino (@mikey5d) on Dec 8, 2018 at 11:42am PST
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Boy with autism still has ‘the best day ever,’ after friends ditch his birthday party
Little girl mistakes bride for Cinderella, and the internet wants to send her to Disney World
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
