Tampa man urges vaccination after fight against COVID-19, double lung transplant

Study shows that life expectancy is falling due to COVID-19

A new study found that COVID-19 undermined years of progress in several countries in improving life expectancy, including the United States. The report shows that the life expectancy of American men has decreased by more than two years.

TAMPA, Florida. – A Tampa dad opens up about his scary fight against COVID-19 in hopes of inspiring others to get vaccinated. The 40-year-old was perfectly healthy before contracting the virus, but had to undergo a double lung transplant after wiping out his ability to uptake oxygen.

Vez Hang has a scar on his chest with a big message behind it. He is recovering at home with his girlfriend and their 5 year old son. He’s not quite at 100%, but he’s feeling as good as he has been since he started his fight against COVID-19.

It was a scary month-long ordeal that he now believes the vaccine could have prevented.

“Get the vaccine. It’s a matter of life or death,” said Hang.

In April, he and his seven-year-old girlfriend Yaneyri, with whom he shares a 5-year-old son, Maso, both tested positive for COVID-19.

Vez Hang and his son Mason

TIED TOGETHER: COVID-19 is reducing life expectancy, especially for men in the United States, a study shows

“One day I was in the shower and couldn’t smell my body wash and then I went on and looked in the mirror and my lips and fingertips were blue,” Hang recalled.

He rushed to the emergency room. The healthy 40-year-old father of an unvaccinated person had difficulty breathing.

“If I hadn’t gone in, I probably wouldn’t have made it. It was like breathing concrete blocks for my lungs,” said Hang.

His situation was so bad that he needed a bilateral lung transplant. It is a procedure in which both diseased lungs are removed and replaced with donor lungs. It was Hang’s only option and something he needed as soon as possible.

MORE: Hernando County firefighter dies of COVID-19 complications

“His lungs were so damaged that he was locked in a hospital without the maximum amount of oxygen that only a hospital can provide,” said Dr. Kapil Patel, medical director of the Center for Advanced Lung Disease and Lung Transplant Program at Tampa General Hospital.

After weeks of searching, Hang found a donor in mid-June and underwent surgery at Tampa General Hospital, one of the busiest transplant centers in the country.

Hang is one of three TGH patients who have undergone a COVID-19 related double lung transplant. It is an experience that meant he had to be apart from his son for an extended period of time.

“He loves his daddy and his mom, so it took a lot of emotional strain on me that his dad is away from him and facetiming him and not being able to sense him,” said Hang.

The video shows the moment Hang was reunited with his son outside of the hospital after weeks of separation. Hang, who was initially reluctant to get the vaccine, wants people to know not to wait and instead take action now to get the vaccine before it’s too late.

“Not just for you, but for your family and loved ones. You deserve your presence, so get vaccinated, ”said Hang.

Hang has since received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. He hopes his story will reach people who are hesitant as before and motivate them to take the picture.

The post Tampa man urges vaccination after fight against COVID-19, double lung transplant first appeared on Daily Florida Press.

from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/tampa-man-urges-vaccination-after-fight-against-covid-19-double-lung-transplant/