After nine long months of being on a wait-list for a double lung transplant, Didsbury resident Ron Becker received a call on Sept. 2 alerting him to make his way to the University of Alberta (U of A) Hospital in Edmonton, as his lungs were ready.
The 54-year-old was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin – a genetic disease that degrades lung tissue – in 2004, a mere six months after he married his wife, Verna.
In addition, Ron has also battled COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which only worsened his condition.
Due to his restricted breathing ability, Ron was required to be on oxygen for the last four years.
Now that he has a new set of lungs, he will no longer have to suffer with the effects of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin, COPD, and eventually, the burden of being tethered to an oxygen tank, said Becker.
“It felt different – great – to breathe on my own,” said Becker of when he woke up. His voice comes through the phone's speaker softly, slowly and thoughtfully.
“I'm on oxygen a little bit,” he said with a pause. “I am a little short of breath right now.”
Now that he has a working set of disease-free lungs, Becker said he wants to start over.
“I just want to have a new life with my wife. First thing I want to do is take my wife, and go on a little holiday somewhere. Anywhere. I don't care.”
“But it won't be too far just yet. I know that.”
Becker said he will have to remain away from smoke for a couple of years, “I can't go firefighting yet,” he joked.
Tensions ran high in recent weeks, as he had been growing increasingly tired and weak, prompting a series of tests that revealed Becker had developed a blood clot in each of his new lungs.
“They've got me on an IV with blood thinners, and they're trying to get my strength back up again,” said Becker.
Verna said she has simply been trying to ride the emotional roller coaster with her husband, and said she has found it challenging to figure out how to help him at times.
With Ron not appreciating being pushed to do more than he feels able to do, and Verna wanting to push him to get well, the couple were at an impasse between two things Ron needed – rest and rehabilitation.
“I try to push him a little bit, but he kind of digs his heels in. It's very difficult,” she said.
“It's going to take quite a while. They've done a big number on him.”
“He's in quite a bit of pain, and that's hard to see. I'm tired, because it's very emotional, and I'm not sleeping at night. That doesn't help either.”
While Becker will likely remain in Edmonton for up to three months after the surgery date (to ensure any complications can be quickly taken care of), he said he anticipates being discharged from the hospital soon, at which time he will go live with his wife in a condo they have rented nearby.
Verna has been staying in the one-bedroom furnished condo owned by GoodHearts Mentoring Foundation, which provides the condo for rent to transplant patients being treated at the U of A Hospital.
“It's a godsend to be able to have the place. I stressed over that so much. When the call comes, where were we going to stay?” said Verna.
The condo is located four city blocks away from the U of A Hospital where Ron was treated and is currently staying.
“He'll come to the condo, and I'll drive him back and forth Monday through Friday for physio and doctor's appointments.”
“He made it through the surgery well, but there is a lot to go through yet,” said Verna.
If his body decides to reject its new lungs, it will most likely take place within the first year, she said, so daily tests are being conducted that are able to tell if rejection is setting in.
“Supposedly, after three months, we can go home. And then the Calgary doctors can deal with us again.”
Thankfully, the Beckers' church has been very supportive of Ron and Verna throughout Ron's battle with the disease.
“I'm glad I belong to the Zion Evangelical Missionary Church. They've been very good to me – I don't know what I'd do without them.”
Back in June, Zion raised money that was put toward the Beckers' expenses during Ron's (at the time) pending surgery.
“It's overwhelming you know. The community of the town of Didsbury all came together and pitched in,” he said.
In addition to the church and community's help, Wal-Mart, Ron's former employer, also helped fundraise for him.
“Anything we've received for this has been really, really helpful.”
“I look forward to going home. I miss my church. I miss my town.”
