Hector’s incredible fight for survival

Prior to contracting COVID-19 in December last year, Hector was fit and healthy. But for reasons that remain unknown – and are being studied by The Alfred ICU team – the 62-year-old became so ill with the virus that just one day after testing positive, he had collapsed at home and was struggling to breath.
“I could feel myself going,” Hector recalls.
His wife Ana, who also had COVID, saw his lips were purple and called an ambulance. Hector was referred to The Alfred through VECMOS (Victorian Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Service). After the initial ambulance trip, Hector has no recollection of events until February this year.

Hector was put on ECMO (extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation), which is a life support machine that performs the role of a patient’s own heart and/or lungs, giving them time to repair. The Alfred runs the statewide ECMO service, and the team are experienced in treating the sickest people in the state. However, ECMO is a short-term solution – meant only for use while the patient’s heart and lungs recover. But Hector’s lungs were not recovering.
Intensivist Brooke Riley, who met Hector on the first day he was admitted to The Alfred and continued to care for him until discharge, said they were forced to make the call after about four months – Hector needed a lung transplant to survive.

Hector was far sicker than any of the patients we were seeing with the disease at the time,” she said.
“During the Delta wave, we saw many patients who were critically unwell. Their lungs would become fibrotic and stiff but over time, they would slowly recover in most circumstances.
“In supporting Hector, we knew that his condition could take time to recover from, and the changes to his lungs could take time to recover. But we tried weaning him off ECMO several times, and his lungs just weren’t able to manage that. They just weren’t recovering. The only option was a transplant.
“It is testament to the whole team who looked after him – and Hector’s positive attitude - that Hector is doing so well today. The medical staff, nursing staff, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dietitians, psychologists, ward support staff, social workers, pharmacists, radiologists and pathologists all worked worked together to get Hector well. Hector was also able to build relationships with those people, it was really special to see.”

Hector believes his faith and positive attitude helped him survive. He completed countless laps around the ICU as part of his physio regime – sometimes salsa dancing to keep it interesting – all to keep his body functioning as he remained connected to the ECMO machine. His medical team took him for regular trips out into the sunshine to help his mental health.
“It kept me strong. Two weeks after the transplant, I was able to go home – with no complications. The team couldn’t believe it,” he said.
When Hector visited the ICU to say goodbye before he left the hospital, the whole team was waiting for him.
“To see Hector walk back in after all the time he spent with us, we were just so proud. So proud of all the work we had put in, and proud of him,” Dr Riley said.
“It was really special.”

Today, Hector and his wife Ana travel to The Alfred three times per week so Hector can undergo physio in the transplant gym. Slowly but surely, life is getting back on track.
“I just cannot thank the staff at The Alfred enough. They truly are angels.”