Three weeks after receiving the first lung transplant at Nebraska Medicine, 58-year-old Phil Sauvageau of Omaha is heading home.
The road ahead
Phil Sauvageau will now receive long-term follow-up care at Nebraska Medicine, which includes testing and pulmonary rehabilitation every day for the next several months. After that, he’ll receive checkups every few months for the rest of his life. Patients who survive their first year after transplant are typically expected to live seven or eight years, but Heather Strah, M.D., has seen many patients who were transplanted 10, 15, 20 years ago who are still enjoying relatively good health.
“Phil has done great so far,” Dr. Strah said. “But the most remarkable thing about Phil’s recovery is his family. They are here continuously to support, encourage and push him. They are the key to his success. He’s very blessed to have them.”
Sauvageau said he’s excited to get home, go for walks with his wife, spend time with his eight grandchildren and help his youngest daughter prepare for her April wedding.
“Before my transplant, I really thought I wouldn’t be here for her big day,” Sauvageau said. “But, thanks to the outstanding team at Nebraska Medicine, I’ll be able to walk my daughter down the aisle. Drs. Strah, Siddique and Moulton have brought an incredible sense of confidence and calmness to this experience. I couldn’t have asked for better care from a better hospital. Nebraska Medicine is No. 1 in my book.”
The married father of four received a double lung transplant on Jan. 24 after being placed on Nebraska Medicine’s lung transplant waiting list Jan. 21.
“We are extremely proud of this accomplishment,” said Heather Strah, M.D., medical director of lung transplantation at Nebraska Medicine and assistant professor of internal medicine at UNMC. “Before we listed Phil, we made sure everything was in place and that he was ready for this life-changing surgery. So many providers came together to make sure Phil received excellent care. He couldn’t have been in better hands.”
Since 2012, Sauvageau has struggled with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a disease that causes scarring of the lungs, often resulting in respiratory failure. Because there is no cure for IPF, Sauvageau’s only option for survival was a lung transplant.
“When Dr. Strah put my name on the list that Thursday (Jan. 21), I told her, ‘See you Saturday,'” Sauvageau said. “You can imagine how shocked my wife and I were to actually get a phone call that Saturday night (Jan. 23), saying they had found a match.”
Sauvageau’s double lung transplant started at 4:43 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24 and lasted approximately six hours. Surgical director of lung transplantation Aleem Siddique, M.D., performed the operation, assisted by transplant surgeon Michael Moulton, M.D. A team of anesthesiologists, surgeons, physician assistants, perfusionists, pharmacists, nursing personnel and other staff members also were in the room.
“The surgery went very smoothly with no significant complications,” Dr. Siddique said. “It was a very exciting time for Phil, the program and me personally. Of course, there is still much to be achieved.”
One day after surgery, Sauvageau already was talking and even walked a few steps down the hallway. He spent several days recovering in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at Nebraska Medicine-Nebraska Medical Center, before being moved to the Cardiac Progressive Care Unit, where he continued to walk several times a day. On Sunday (Feb. 14), Sauvageau reached an important goal by walking one mile in one day. Sauvageau was discharged Monday.
“I feel pretty darn good. I’ve been sick for so long, it’s nice being able to move around again,” Sauvageau said. “This was the greatest gift God has ever given me. Whether I get 20 weeks or 20 years with my new lungs, I’m so thankful for my donor. They’ve given me the chance to have a better relationship with God and to be here for my family.”
Rest In Peace Phil……..