NU surgeons perform 1st double-lung transplant on Chicago police officer who had lung cancer, COVID

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo
Monday, May 13, 2024
Surgeons perform double-lung transplant on lung cancer, COVID patient
Surgeons perform double-lung transplant on lung cancer, COVID patientNorthwestern Medicine surgeons performed their 1st double-lung transplant on CPD Capt. Arthur Gillespie, who had lung cancer and COVID.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Surgeons at Northwestern Medicine have performed a double-lung transplant with something they haven't encountered before.

Chicago police Capt. Arthur Gillespie had one lung damaged from lung cancer and the other damaged by COVID.

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It was March of 2020 when he got a severe case of COVID, and was diagnosed with cancer around the same time.

"If it wasn't for the COVID, there's no telling how long because there was no symptoms or signs that was presenting themselves that let me know I was in that condition. So I just had to be grateful that it was caught when it was caught," Gillespie said.

SEE ALSO: Doctor with cancer gets unprecedented liver, double-lung transplant from Northwestern Medicine

Gillespie received his new lungs at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in January, and doctors say he continues getting stronger every day.

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