Helping lung transplant recipient

Fundraiser held for double-lung transplant patient

Brandon Summerlin can finally breathe again.

The 21-year-old from Woodslee underwent a life-saving double-lung transplant in Toronto April 8. He was up and walking 21 hours later. His father, Rob Summerlin, said Brandon’s attitude about life changed once he took his first postop breath.

“The first words that came out of his mouth after they took off the ventilator were, ‘I can breathe, I’m gonna be OK,’” said Rob. “He felt like he was drowning before.” At age three, doctors diagnosed Brandon with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease mainly affecting the lungs and digestive system. The severity of the disease differs from person to person, but ongoing and frequent lung infections destroy lungs and often lead to death. Friends and family held a fundraiser called Bash for Brandon in Kingsville at Shakers Lounge Sunday to pay for medical expenses and the Toronto apartment Brandon currently lives in. His mother, Karen Summerlin, and his father take turns staying with him. Brandon must stay in Toronto for the next three months so doctors can monitor his health. Neither he nor his mother were at the fundraiser.

He was out of the hospital 12 days after the transplant, but fluid buildup under his right lung last week forced him back in. Physicians are having some difficulty draining the fluid, said Rob, but Brandon is doing much better than before the transplant. “The last couple of years his health was declining,” said Rob. “We seriously thought we were going to lose him this year because his oxygen levels were so low.” Before the surgery, Brandon’s heart rate stayed around 135 beats per minute. His lungs were only capable of taking in 0.01 litres of oxygen each breath. He had no energy to do anything, said Rob. “It was short, rapid breaths, almost like a dog panting.” Now, Brandon’s heart rate is a steady 87 beats per minute, and his new lungs can hold about two litres of air.

Rob said Brandon is already fed up with being in the hospital again, but he’s hopeful the fluid will be drained soon.

Cole Summerlin, Brandon’s 15-year-old brother, also has cystic fibrosis.

“Cole has been a lot healthier from day one,” said Rob. “He’s never had a hospital stay related to lung infections. “Everybody with cystic fibrosis has different symptoms.” Brandon and Cole have done physiotherapy to maintain lung function every day since being diagnosed. The therapy involves puffers, lung exercise tools, chestshaking vests to prevent mucus buildup, and inhaling from medicine-delivering mist machines called nebulizers.

Now, Rob said, Brandon’s lungs are free from cystic fibrosis. Although he still faces the disease’s other effects, like cystic fibrosis related diabetes, Brandon has plans for the future.

“He wants to get a job, he wants to go to college, he wants to go swimming, he wants to go biking,” said Rob. “Those are the things he’s talked about doing, none of which he was able to do before.” Family friend Chantelle Meadows helped organize Sunday ’s fundraiser. She met Brandon and his family years ago when she worked with Cystic Fibrosis Canada. “They didn’t ask for help,” said Meadows. “We offered to help them.”

Meadows said Brandon was on the wait list for less than three weeks before donor lungs were available. “We’re so happy he’s doing well,” she said.

Rob said he encourages everyone to sign up to be an organ donor. The family is accepting online donations through PayPal.