Hospitalized 4 Months With COVID-19, Oak Forest Grandmother Leaves Hospital Following Double Lung Transplant
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Laura Bratlien had COVID-19 and her lungs failed, and doctors told her husband she was going to die.
But she has proven to be a true survivor.
Bratlien left Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Wednesday after being hospitalized for four months.
The Oak Forest grandmother received a double lung transplant, and never gave up fighting.
"It's been a very long physical journey for me. Of course, my lungs were destroyed. But three times, I almost died," Bratlein said. "Every breath I take today is to honor the person that donated these lungs."
Bratlien is also a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma back in 2013.
She said she also got the COVID vaccine in March, but believes the medication she was taking may have weakened the vaccine.
A GoFundMe has been set up for Bratlein's post-transplant care.