Eduardo lived with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for years. He was a longtime smoker, and between the smoking and his work at the family printing business, he was often coughing. His daughter, Ashley, would push him to see a pulmonologist for checkups. After every visit, the answer was the same: it's just COPD, nothing more.

Then, in 2022, a routine visit to his pulmonologist turned up something different: a spot on his lung. Eduardo was referred to Francisco Tarrazzi, MD, a thoracic surgeon at Memorial Healthcare System, who ordered a biopsy. The results confirmed lung cancer, and Eduardo would need surgery to remove it.

What Happens When Lung Cancer Tumors Are Near Major Arteries?

The surgery was supposed to take about two hours. It took six. Once inside, Dr. Tarrazzi and thoracic surgeon Mark Block, MD, found tumors positioned dangerously close to major arteries. To remove them safely, the surgical team had to work near Eduardo's vocal cords, which led to complications no one had planned for.

What Does Recovery Look Like After Complex Lung Surgery?

Eduardo spent a month in the hospital after undergoing surgery. He could not eat, drink, or speak for a week. That's when a skill he learned decades ago became a lifeline. Because he grew up with his grandparents, who were deaf and mute, Eduardo was fluent in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language. When his voice was gone, sign language gave it back to him.

“It wasn't easy when I couldn't talk," Eduardo said.

Marika Fraser, MD, medical director of General Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, was also part of the team and worked to save his vocal cords. 

Through it all, Eduardo's family never left his side. 

"What kept me going was my family," he said. "I was in the hospital for 30 days, and I was never alone."

Eduardo's recovery required a multidisciplinary team from across the system. Dr. Tarrazzi and Dr. Block worked to save his lungs; Dr. Fraser worked to save his voice; and his pulmonologist kept him stable through it all. When it came time for chemotherapy, Luis Raez, MD, medical director of Memorial Cancer Institute, and Paola Izquierdo, APRN, guided him throughout his treatment and made his experience very pleasant.

Eduardo remembers the small moments of care just as clearly as the medical ones. When he struggled to breathe, a member of the housekeeping staff had a simple trick to help him find his rhythm again: smell the roses, blow out the candle. 

How is Eduardo Doing Today?

Eduardo is back to 175 pounds, up from the 90 pounds he weighed at his lowest point. He and his wife, Faith, have been married for 40 years, and their three kids, Ashley, Eduardo Jr., and Alexa, are as close as ever. The family printing business is thriving, and they're opening a second location.

There were moments the family wasn't sure he'd make it. 

"But we kept the faith," Ashley said. "I know my dad is super strong."

"Thank God I'm doing great," says Eduardo. "Every day I'm more grateful. God gave me a second chance."