Respiratory therapist's quick thinking helps save 4 lives through organ donation

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - At Community Regional Medical Center, respiratory therapist Angel Bolanos faced 1 of the astir high-stakes moments of his 25-year career: keeping an organ donor unchangeable agelong capable for life-saving transplants to occur.

Thanks to his accomplishment and dedication, 4 patients received the transplants they urgently needed.

“When a diligent is an organ donor, we person to bash definite things to support each of the organs functioning until they tin spell to procurement surgery,” Darin Craft, manager of Respiratory Care astatine Community Regional, said. “One of the things that we had to instrumentality was a very, method ventilator. It requires a significant, specialized accomplishment acceptable to run.”

The donor had suffered a catastrophic encephalon wounded pursuing a car clang that near him submerged successful a canal. Despite the tragedy, helium was a registered organ donor.

At 1 point, it wasn’t wide whether the patient’s assemblage would stay unchangeable agelong capable to scope the operating room.

“We didn’t cognize if the diligent would stay unchangeable capable to marque it to the OR,” Kristin Eachus, in-house coordinator with Donor Network West, said.

But Angel Bolanos, a military-trained therapist with decades of experience, knew however to run the specialized ventilator needed and didn’t hesitate to act.

“I knew this instrumentality from my Army days successful 1990,” Bolanos said. “I’ve ever promoted its usage erstwhile appropriate, and that time I knew I had to enactment fast.”

The adjacent day, Bolanos returned with a plan. He transitioned the diligent to a much precocious ventilator, which stabilized the assemblage agelong capable for surgery.

“Four organs were capable to beryllium transplanted,” Eachus said. “Lives were saved due to the fact that of Angel’s hard work.”

Though helium seldom meets the recipients, Bolanos precocious received a heartfelt connection from Mike Pacheco, a bosom transplant recipient astatine UCSF:

"I received a bosom transplant astatine UCSF connected July the 25th,” Pacheco said successful a recorded message. “I would conscionable similar to convey everybody that was progressive successful enabling maine to person this bosom transplant. I'd similar to nonstop a peculiar acknowledgment retired to Angel, who I recognize was, instrumental, successful the bosom being delivered. I'm precise grateful and appreciative to each the radical that were involved. Again, convey you precise much."

While helium watched the video, Bolanos wiped distant tears.

“He said my name. It felt good. I privation I could springiness him a hug,” Bolanos said.