An unexpected cancer diagnosis
Annie Tibbets, an active mother of three, received the news she never expected to hear — she had lung cancer.
It was on an ordinary day that Duilio Ortega, age 51, felt dizzy and was having difficulty breathing. He thought he might be experiencing a problem with his lungs, so went to Sharp Memorial Hospital’s emergency room. There, he learned he’d actually had a heart attack.
Over time, Duilio developed severe heart failure. He was then told he needed a heart transplant. All-in-all, Duilio was at Sharp Memorial Hospital for five months. He was bedridden with two heart pumps to keep him alive and didn’t think he’d survive.
However, when a heart became available, Duilio thought it was a miracle. And after a successful heart transplant, he was given the opportunity to hold his own heart and say goodbye.
“Mr. Ortega had a dramatic improvement after the transplant,” says Dr. Robert Adamson, a cardiothoracic surgeon affiliated with Sharp Memorial. “He returned to excellent health very quickly.”
Watch the video above to learn more about Duilio’s story.
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Annabel Antwan
Contributor
Annabel Antwan is a clinical nurse in the surgical intensive care unit at Sharp Memorial Hospital.
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