Just a year after receiving a double lung transplant, a 58-year-old Cobble Hill resident is accompanied and encouraged by his care team by Rusk’s rehabilitation to Nyu Langone Hospital-Brooklyn met with his personal goal of completing “The Great Saunter” Manhattan organized by the non-Mill by the SHOREWALKERS environment.
“I remember crossing this finish line and realizing,” Wow, I really got something remarkable, “said Craig Kanarick, a dual lung transplant patient who is also Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise.
Kanarick was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a rare and incurable pulmonary disease, in February 2023. The degenerative state of the lungs and gradually steal patients with their ability to breathe. It has a standard survival rate of just two to five years without a transplant. Kanarick immediately began pulmonary rehabilitation at Sunset Park Hospital in May 2023 to improve his chances of qualifying for transplantation. But by the end of 2023, its condition had worsened significantly, requiring complementary oxygen.
“I was constantly tired,” Kanarick recalled. “Even walking on the road became a challenge.”
After an exhausting winter in March 2024, after just two days on the donor list, Kanarick received the call that would change his life: donor lungs were available. The transplant, executed by Justin C. Chan, MD and Stephanie H. Chang, MD, at Nyu Langone’s Pavilion Kimmel, was successful. Within two months, Kanarick returned to Sunset Park for rehabilitation – and this time, it was not only to survive, but also to achieve his goals.
In the coming months, Kanarick oxygen levels and overall pulmonary endurance have improved drastically. While still recovering from his transplantation, Kanarick set an ambitious goal: to complete the big saunter, whose organizers seek to raise awareness and to create support for PF Warriors, a non -profit group of patients and patients.
This past May, Kanarick, Kanarick, from one of his pulmonary physiotherapists, Alani Harrison, PT, DPT and dozens of his friends and supporters – set his goals and crossed the finish line, exhausted but triumphant.
“It was great to have someone where he was optimistic and motivated and I felt like I could achieve my goal,” Kanarick said to have Harrison next to him for the whole walk. “It was invaluable to have Alani there to say” I know your body. You can do this. ”
“To be right on the side of Craig as he achieved his goal was extremely rewarding,” Harrison said. “I am so happy about him and I saw firsthand the commitment and dedication he put in the achievement of this dream.”
