Story : A fighter on many levels

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06/17/03

A fighter on many levels

Following transplant, cystic fibrosis survivor finds happiness in life,

helping others

By JEFF MEYERS, Staff Writer

PLATTSBURGH — Brunell knows what it’s like to face death.Five

years ago, a lifelong struggle against cystic fibrosis seemed to be

coming to an end. He had become so ill that he had to quit his job as

assistant manager at Red Lobster and was held prisoner by his health-care

needs. " I was on oxygen around the clock, " he said. " My life expectancy at

the time was six months. I was in the thought process of preparing for

the end of my life. " In February 1999, Brunell was taken to the hospital

with severe difficulty breathing. It was the first time that he " almost "

died from the disease, but his own determination and the support from his

wife, Darcy, prevented cystic fibrosis from winning. " Pretty much the only

option we had left was organ donation, " he said. " We went out to

California in July (1999) knowing it was probably our last hope. " Three

potential donors, including his brother, Robin, and a friend, Steve

Regan, accompanied him. Regan was a close friend of Brunell’s sister,

, who died at age 18 from the disease in 1981. " All three went out

with me, but we didn’t know which one would transplant one of his lobes

to me, " Brunell recalled. " Whatever the reason was, they chose Robin and

Steve for the transplant. " The operation was successful, though Brunell

initially rejected the lobe following the procedure. Three days after the

surgery, however, he was up and on his way to recovery in the hospital’s

rehab department.Within three weeks, he was discharged from the hospital

and returned to Plattsburgh by mid July. Besides a minor setback in

November 1999, when an abscess was found in his esophagus, he has had no

medical problem.It was time for him to move on. " I’d always wanted to be a

firefighter, but I never had the opportunity because of my illness, " he

said. " Now, with healthy lungs, I had the opportunity and decided to take

it. " A resident of the Town of Plattsburgh, Brunell looked into how to

apply to become a firefighter with the District 3 Fire Department. After

he finished the application process, district members voted him in, and

his dream to become a firefighter came true.He subsequently enrolled in

an emergency medical technician course and became a certified EMT in

December 2002. " I feel great to be part of the community, to feel more

like a human being, " he said. " This is so much better than sitting on the

couch hooked up to an oxygen tank watching TV all day. " Four years ago, I

was hooked up to four liters of oxygen. Now I’m running into burning

buildings with a breathing pack, helping other people in need. It’s where

I wanted to be. " Besides his work as a volunteer EMT and firefighter, the

35-year-old Brunell also works in the emergency department at CVPH

Medical Center, responding to ambulance calls for the department. " A lot

of times, we’ll go somewhere, and I can relate to what it is the patient

is going through, " he said. " I’ve been there. I can help them in a way a

lot of people can’t. " He also works out regularly in the District 3 weight

room and recently purchased a universal gym to help stay in shape at

home.On the fourth-year anniversary of the transplant, Brunell’s family

held a party to help him celebrate. Long after everyone else had gone

home, he sat around with his brother and Regan to reminisce about the

trip west that saved his life. " It was very touching for all of us to talk

about it, " he said. " We were all close to , and we all miss her very

much. We were able to talk about our feelings. " Brunell’s enthusiasm for

his recent success is tempered by his acceptance of a future that is not

always certain. " The average life expectancy of a transplant patient is

five to seven years, " he said. " I’m in my fourth year and going very

strong. I know I have another strong four or five years. After that, I

don’t know. " But I’ve fought fires, I’ve saved lives. I have a beautiful

home, a wonderful wife and a great pet (their husky, Tacoma). I couldn’t

have asked for any more. " I’m very happy. " Click here for information on

the benefit tournamentJeff Meyers can be reached by e-mail:

jmeyers@...

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